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FOR DISTRIBUTINQ THE 

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Spalding's 
Athletic Library 




G. Spalding 



Anticipating the present ten- 
dency of the American people 
toward a healthful method of living 
and enjoyment, Spalding's Athletic 
Library was established in 1892 for 
the pvirpose of encouraging ath- 
letics in every form, not only by 
luiblishing the official rules and 
)ecords pertaining to the various 
l)astimes, but also by instructing, 
until to-day Spalding's Athletic 
Library is unique in its own par- 
ticular field and has been conceded 
the greatest educational series on 
athletic and physical training sub- 
jects that has ever been compiled. 

The publication of a distinct 
series of books devoted to athletic 
sports and pastimes and designed 
to occupy the premier place in 
America in its class was an early 
idea of Mr. A. G. Spalding, who 
was one of the first in America 
to publish a handbook devoted to 
athletic sports, Spalding's Official 
Base Ball Guide being the initial 



number, which was^ followed at intervals with other handbooks on the 
sports prominent in tire '70s. 

Spalding's Athletic Library haa had the advice and counsel of Mr. A. G. 
Spalding in all of its undertc' ings, and particularly in all books devoted 
to the national game. This irjjplies especially to Spalding's Official 
Base Ball Guide and Spalding's Official Base Ball Record, both of which 
receive the personal attention of Mr. A. G. Spalding, owing to his early 
connection with the game-as the leading pitcher of the champion Boston 
and Chicago teams of 1872-76. His interest does not stop, however, with 
matters pertaining to base ball; there is not a sport that Mr. Spalding 
does not make it his business to become famihar with, and that the 
Library will always maintain its premier place, with Mr. Spalding's able 
counsel at hand, goes without saying. 

The entire series since the issue of the first number has been under 
the direct personal supervision of Mr. James E. Sullivan, President 
of the American Sports Publishing Company, and the total series of 
consecutive numbers reach an aggregate of considerably over three 
hundred, included in which are many "annuals," that really constitute 
the history of their particular sport in America year by year, back copies 
of which are even now eagerly sought for, constituting as they do the 
really first authentic records of events and official rules that have ever 
been consecutively compiled. 

When Spalding's Athletic Library was founded, seventeen years ago, 
track and field athletics were practically unknown outside the larger 
colleges and a few athletic clubs in the leading cities, which gave occa- 
sional meets, when an entry list of 250 competitors was a subject of com- 
ment; golf was known only by a comparatively few persons; lawn tennis 
had some vogue and base ball was practically the only established field 



EDITORS OF SPALDING' S ATHLET IC LIBRARY 

sport, and that in a professional way; basket ball had just been invented- 
athletics for the schoolboy— and schoolgirl— were almost unknown and' 
an advocate of class contests in athletics in the schools could not Wet a 
hearing-. To-day we find the greatest body of athletes in the world is 
the Public Schools Athletic League of Greater New York, which has had 
an entry list at its annual games of over two thousand, and in whose 

elementary series" in base ball last year 106 schools competed for the 
trophy emblematic of the championship. 

While Spalding's Athletic Library cannot claim that the rapid growth 
of athletics in this country is due to it solely, the fact cannot be denied 
that the books have had a great deal to do with its encouragement, by 
printing the official rules and instructions for playing the various games 
at a nominal price, within the reach of everyone, with the sole object 
that its series might be complete and the one place where a person 
could look with absolute certainty for the particular book in which he 
might be interested. 

In selecting the editors and writers for the various books, the lead- 
ing authority in his particular line has been obtained, with the result 
that no collection of books on athletic subjects can compare with 
Spalding's Athletic Library for the prominence of the various authors 
and their ability to present their subjects in a thorough and practical 
manner. 

A short sketch of a few of those who have edited some of the lead- 
ing numbers of Spalding's Athletic Library is given herewith : 



JAMES E. SULLIVAN 

President American Sports Publishing Com- 
pany; entered the publishing house of Frank 
Leslie in 1878, and has been connected continu- 
ously with the publishing business since then 
and also as athletic editor of various New 
York papers; was a competing athlete; one of 
the organizers of the Amateur Athletic Union 
of the United States; has been actively on its 
board of governors since its organization until 
the present time, and President for two suc- 
cessive terms; has attended every champion- 
ship meeting in America since 1879 and has officiated in some capacity in 
connection with American amateur championsihips track and field games 
for nearly twenty-five years; assistant American director Olympic Games, 
Paris, 1900; director Pan-American Exposition athletic department, 1901 ; 
chief department physical culture Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. 
Louis, 1904; secretary American Committee Olympic Games, at Athens, 
1993; honorary director of Athletics at Jamestown Exposition, 1907; secre- 
tary American Committee Olympic Games, at London, 1908; member of 
the Pastime A. C, New York: honorary member Missouri A. C, St. Louis; 
honorary member Olympic A. C, San Francisco; ex-president Pastime 
A. C, New Jersey A. C, Knickerbocker A. C; president Metropolitan 
Association of the A. A. U. for fifteen years; president Outdoor Recrea- 
tion League; with Dr. Luther H. Gulick organized the Public Schools 
Athletic Leagrue of New York, and is now chairman of its games commit- 
tee and member executive committee; was a pioneer in playground work 
and one of the organizers of the Outdoor Recreation League of New York ; 
appointed by President Roosevelt as special commissioner to the Olympic 
Games at Athens, 1906, and decorated by King George I. of the Hellenes 
(Greece) for his services in connection with the Olympic Games; ap- 
pointed special commissioner by President Roosevelt to the Olympic 
Games at London, 1908; appointed by Mayor MtClellan, 1908, as member 
of the Board of Education of Greater New York, 




EDITORS OF SPALDING' S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 




WALTER CAMP 

For quarter of a century Mr. Walter Camp 
of Yale has occupied a leading position in col- 
lege athletics. It is immaterial what organiza- 
tion is suggested for college athletics, or for 
the betterment of conditions, insofar as college 
athletics is concerned, Mr. Camp has always 
played an important part in its conferences, 
and the great interest in and high plane of 
college sport to-day. are undoubtedly due more 
to Mr. Camp than to any other individual. Mr. 
Camp has probably written more on college 
athleticb than any other writer and the leading papers and maga- 
zines of America are always anxious to secure his expert opinion on foot 
ball, track and field athletics, base ball and rowing. Mr. Camp has grown 
up with Yale athletics and is a part of Yale's remarkable athletic system. 
While he has been designated as the "Father of Foot Ball," it is a well 
known fact that during his college career Mr. Camp was regarded as one 
of the best players that ever represented Yale on the base ball field, so 
when we hear of Walter Camp as a foot ball expert we must also remem- 
ber his remarkable knowledge of the game of base ball, of which he is a 
great admirer. Mr. Camp has edited Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide 
since it was first published, and also the Spalding Athletic Library book 
on How to Play Foot Ball. There is certainly no man in American college 
life better qualified to write for Spalding's Athletic Library than Mr. 
Camp. 



DR. LUTHER HALSEY GUL!CK 

The leading exponent of physical training 
in America; one who has worked hard to im- 
press the value of physical training in the 
schools; when physical training was combined 
with education at the St. Louis Exposition in 
1904 Dr. Gulick played an important part in 
that congress; he received several awards for 
his good work and had many honors conferred 
upon him; he is the author of a great many 
books on the subject; it was Dr. Gulick. who, 
acting on the suggestion of James E. Sullivan, 
organized the Public Schools Athletic League of Greater New York, and 
was its first Secretary; Dr. Gulick was also for several years Director of 
Physical Training in the public schools of Greater New York, resigning 
the position to assume the Presidency of the Playground Association of 
America. Dr. Gulick is an authority on all subjects pertaining to phys- 
ical training and the study of the child. 





JOHN B. FOSTER 

Successor to the late Henry Chadwick 
("Father of Base Ball") as editor of Spald- 
ing's Official Base Ball Guide; sporting editor 
of the New York Evening Telegram; has 
been in the newspaper business for many 
years and is recognized throughout America 
as a leading writer on the national game; a 
staunch supporter of organized base ball, 
his pen has always been used for the better- 
ment of the game. 



EDITORS OF SPALDING* S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 




TIM MURNANE 

Base Ball editor of the Boston Globe and 
President of the New England League of 
Base Ball Clubs; one of the best known base 
ball men of the country; known from coast 
to coast; is a keen follower of the g-ame and 
prominent in all its councils; nearly half a 
century ago was one of America's foremost 
players: knows the game thoroughly and 
w^rites from the point of view both of player 
and an official. 




HARRY PHILIP BURCHELL 

Sporting editor of the New York Times; 
graduate of the University of Pennsylvania; 
editor of Spalding's Official Lawn Tennis 
Annual; is an authority on the game; follows 
the movements of the players minutely and 
understands not only tennis but all other sub- 
jects that can be classed as athletics; no one 
is better qualified to edit this book than Mr. 
Burchell. 



GEORGE T. HEPBRON 

Former Young Men's Christian Association 
director; for many years an official of the 
Athletic League of Young Men's Christian 
Associations of North America ; was con- 
nected with Dr. Luther H. Gulick in Young 
Men's Christian Association work for over 
twelve years; became identified with basket 
ball when it was in its infancy and has fol- 
lowed it since, being recognized as the lead- 
ing exponent of the official rules; succeeded 
Dr. Gulick as editor of the Official Basket Ball 

Guide and also editor of the Spalding Athletic Libraiy book on How to 

Play Basket Ball. 





JAMES S. MITCHEL 

Former champion weight thrower ; holder 
of numerous records, and is the winner of 
more championships than any other individual 
in the history of sport ; Mr. Mitchel is a close 
student of athletics and well qualified to write 
upon any topic connected with athletic sport ; 
has been for years on the staff of the New 
York Sun. 



EDITORS OF SPALDINCr S ATHLETIC L IBRARY 

~~ MICHAEL C. MURPHY 

The world's most famous athletic trainer; 
the champion athletes that he has developed 
for track and field sports, foot ball and base ball 
lields would run into thousands: he became 
famous when at Yale University and has 
been particularly successful in developmg 
what might be termed championship teams; 
his rare good judgment has placed him in an 
enviable position in the athletic world; now 
with the University of Pennsylvania; dur- 
ing his career has trained only at two eol- 
—=— leges and one athletic club, Yale and the 

University of Pennsylvania and Detroit Athletic P^^b; his most recent 
university u ^ training the famous American team ol athletes 

lL"tTwepTt\ete'ld*at' the" Ofympic Games of 1908 at London. 





DR. C. WARD CRAMPTON 

Succeeded Dr. Gulick as director of physical 
training in the schools of Greater New York: 
as secretary of the Public Schools Athletic 
League is at the head of the most remarkable 
organization of its kind in the world; is a 
practical athlete and gymnast himself, and 
has been for years connected with the physi- 
cal training system in the schools of Greater 
New York, having had charge of the Higlx 
School of Commerce. 




DR. GEORGE J. FISHER 

Has been connected with Y. M. C. A. work 
for many years as physical director at Cincin- 
nati and Brooklyn, where he made such a high 
reputation as organizer that he was chosen to 
succeed Dr. Luther H. Gulick as Secretary of 
the Athletic League of Y. M. C. A.'s of North 
America, when the latter resigned to take 
charge of the physical training in the Public 
Schools of Greater New York. 



DR. GEORGE ORTON 

On athletics, college athletics, particularly 
track and field, foot ball, soccer foot ball, and 
training of the youth, it would be hard to find 
one better aualified than Dr. Orton; has had 
the necessary athletic experience and the 
ability to impart that experience intelligently 
to the youth of the land; for years was the 
American, British and Canadian champion 
runner. 



EDITORS OF SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 








FREDERICK R. TOOMBS 

A well known authority on skating-, rowing, 
boxing, racquets, and other athletic sports; 
was sporting editor of American Press Asso- 
ciation, New York; dramatic editor; is a law- 
yer and has served several terms as a member 
of Assembly of the Legislature of the State of 
New York; has written several novels and 
historical works. 



R. L. WELCH 

A resident of Chicago; the popularity of 
indoor base ball is chiefly due to his efforts; 
a player himself of no mean ability; a first- 
class organizer: he has followed the game of 
indoor base ball from its inception. 



DR. HENRY S. ANDERSON 

Has been connected with Yale University 
for years and is a I'ecognized authority on 
gymnastics; is admitted to be one of the lead- 
ing authorities in America on gymnastic sub- 
jects; is the author of many books on physical 
training. 



CHARLES M. DANIELS 

Just the man to write an authoritative 
book on swimming; the fastest swimmer the 
world has ever known; member New York 
Athletic Club swimming team and an Olym- 
pic champion at Athens in 1906 and London, 
1908. In his book on Swimming, Champion 
Daniels describes just the methods one must 
use to become an expert swimmer. 

GUSTAVE BOJUS 

Mr. Bojus is most thoroughly qualified to 
write intelligently on all subjects pertaining 
to gymnastics and athletics; in his day one 
of America's most famous amateur athletes; 
has competed successfully in gymnastics and 
many other sports for the New York Turn 
Verein; for twenty years he has been prom- 
inent in teaching gymnastics and athletics; 
was responsible for the famous gymnastic 
championship teams of Columbia University; 
now with the Jersey City high schools. 



EDITORS OF SPALDING' S ATHLET IC LIBRARY^ 








CHARLES JACOBUS 

Admitted to be the "Father of Roque;" 
one of America's most expert players, win- 
ning the Olympic Championship at St. Louis 
in 1904; an ardent supporter of the game 
and follows it minutely, and much of the 
success of roque is due to his untiring efforts; 
certainly there is no one better qualified to 
write on this subject than Mr. Jacobus. 



DR. E. B. WARMAN 

Well known as a physical training expert; 
was probably one of the first to enter the field 
and is the author of many books on the sub- 
ject; lectures extensively each year all over 
the country. 



W. J. CROMIE 

Now with the University of Pennsylvania: 
was formerly a Y. M. C. A. physical director; 
a keen student of all gymnastic matters: the 
author of many books on subjects pertaining 
to physical training. 



G. M. MARTIN 

By profession a physical director of the 
Young Men's Christian Association; a close 
student of all things gymnastic, and games 
for the classes in the gymnasium or clubs. 



PROF. SENAC 

A leader in the fencing world ; has main- 
tained a fencing school in New York for 
years and developed a great many cham- 
pions ; understands the science of fencing 
thoroughly and the benefits to be derived 
therefrom. 



SPALDING ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

a Giving the Titles of ail Spalding Attiletic Library Boolts now ^ 
J in print, grouped ior ready reference ^ —— ^J 

SPALDING OFFICIAL ANNUALS 



No. 


1 


No. 


lA 


Ho. 


2 


No. 


2A 


No. 


3 


No. 


4 


No. 


5 


No. 


6 


No. 


7 


No. 


8 


No. 


9 


No. 


lO 


No. 


12 



Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 
Spalding's Officia 

I. Base Ball 

Spalding's Official Base Ball 

Guide. 
Official Base Ball Record. 
How to Play Base Ball. 
How to Bat. 
How to Run Bases. 
How to Pitch. 
How to Catch. 
How to Play First Base. 
How to Play Second Base. 
How to Play Third Base. 
How to Play Shortstop. 
How to Play the Outfield. 
How to Organize a Base Ball 

Club. [League. 

How to Organize a Base Ball 
How to Manage a Base Ball 

Club. 
How toTrain a BaseBallTeam 
How to Captain a Base Ball 
HowtoUmpireaGame.[Team 
Technical Base Ball Terms. 
No. 219 Ready Reckoner of Base Ball 

Percentages. 

BASE BALL AUXILIARIES 
No. 319 Minor League Base Ball Guide 
No. 320 Official Book National League 

of Prof. Base Ball Clubs. 
No. 321 Official Handbook National 

Playground Ball Assn. 



Group 

No. 1 

No.lA 
No. 202 
No. 223 
No. 232 
No. 230 
No. 229 
No. 225 
No. 226 
No. 227 
No. 228 
No. 224 

r 



No. J 
231.] 



Groap II. 



Foot Ball 



No. 2 Spalding's Official Foot Ball 

Guide. 
No. 334 Code of the Foot Ball Rules. 
No. 324 How to Play Foot Ball. 
No. 2a Spalding's Official Soccer Foot 

Ball Guide. 
No. 286 How to Play Soccer. 



Base Ball Guide 

Base Ball Record 

Foot Ball Guide 

Soccer Foot Ball Guide 

Cricket Guide 

Lawn Tennis Annual 

Golf Guide 

Ice Hockey Guide 

Basket Ball Guide 

Bowling Guide 

Indoor Base Ball Guide 

Roller Polo Guide 

Athletic Almanac 

FOOT BALL AUXILIARY 
No. 332 Spalding's Official Canadian 

Foot Ball Guide. 
No. 335 Spalding's Official Rugby Foot 

Ball Guide. 

cricKet 



Group III. 

No. 3 Spalding's Official Cricket Guide. 
No. 277 Cricket and How to Play It. 

Group IV. Lawn Tennis 

No. 4 Sx>alding's Official Lawn Ten- 
nis Annual. 

No. 157 How to Play Lawn Tennis. 

No. 279 Strokes and Science of Lawn 
Tennis. 

Group V. Goll 

No. 5 Spalding's Official Golf Guide 
No. 276 How to Play Golf. 

Group VI. noekey 

No. 6 Spalding's Official Ice Hockey 

Guide. 
No. 304 How to Play Ice Hockey. 
No. 154 Field Hockey. 
(Lawn Hockey. 
No. 188 < Parlor Hockey. 

(Garden Hockey. 
No. 180 Ring Hockey. 

HOCKEY AUXILIARY 
No. 256 Official Handbook Ontario 
Hockey Association. 

Group VII. Basket Ball 

No. 7 Spalding's Official Basket 

Ball Guide. 
No. 193 How to Play Basket Ball. 
No. 318 Basket Ball Guide forWomen. 

BASKET BALL AUXILIARY 
No. 323 Official Collegiate Basket Ball 

Handbook. 



ANY OF THE ABOVE BOOKS MAILED POSTPAID UPON RECEIPT OF 10 CENTS 



SPALDING ATHLETIC LIBRARY 



Group VIII. Bowling 

No. 8 Spalding's Official Bowling 
Guide. 

Group IX. Indoor Dase Bali 

No. 9 Spalding's Official Indoor Base 
Ball Guide. 



Group X. 


Polo 


No. 


10 


Spalding's Official Roller Polo 






Guide. 




No. 


129 


Water Polo. 




No. 


199 


Equestrian Polo. 




Group XI. Miscellaneous Games 


No. 


201 


Lacrosse. 




No. 


322 


Official Handbook U. S. 


Inter- 






collegiate Lacrosse League. 


No. 


248 


Archery. 




No. 


188 


Croquet. 




No. 


271 


Roque. 
(Racquets. 




No. 


194 


< Squash- Racquets. 
(Court Tennis. 




No. 


13 


Hand Ball. 




No. 


167 


Quoits. 




No. 


170 


Push Ball. 




No. 


14 


Curling. 




No. 


207 


Lawn Bowls. 




No. 


188 


Lawn Games. 




No. 


189 


Children's Games. 





Group XII. Athletics 

No. 12 Spalding's Official Athletic 

Almanac. 

No. 27 College Athletics. 

No. 182 All Around Athletics. 

No. 156 Athletes' Guide. 

No. 87 Athletic Primer. 

No. 273 Olympic GamesatAthens,1906 

No. 252 How to Sprint. 

No. 255 How to Run 100 Yards. 

No. 174 Distance and Cross Country 

Running. [Thrower. 
No. 259 How to Become a Weight 
No. 55 Official Sporting Rules, [boys. 
No. 246 Athletic Training for School- 
No. 317 Marathon Running. 
No. 331 Schoolyard Athletics. 

ATHLETIC AUXILIARIES 
No. 311 Amateur Athletic Union Offi- 
cial Handbook. [book. 
No. 316 Intercollegiate Official Hand- 
No. 302 Y. M. C. A. Official Handbook. 
No. 313 Public Schools Athletic 
League Official Handbook. 
No. 314 Public Schools Athletic 
League Official Handbook 
— Girls' Branch. 
No. 308 Official Handbook New York 
Interscholastic Athletic 
Association. 



Group XIII. 



Athieilc 
AccompiishmenU 



No. 177 How to Swim. 
No. 296 Speed Swimming- 
No. 128 How to Row. 
No. 209 How to Become a Skater. 
No. 178 How to Train for Bicyclinflr. 
No. 23 Canoeing. 
No. 282 Roller Skating Guide. 

Group XIV. Manly Sports 

No. 18 Fencing. ( By Breck.) 

No. 162 Boxing. 

No. 165 Fencing. ( By Senac.) 

No. 140 Wrestling. 

No. 236 How to Wrestle. 

No. 102 Ground Tumbling, 

No. 233 Jiu Jitsu. 

No. 166 How to Swing Indian Clubs. 

No. 200 Dumb Bell Exercises. 

No. 143 Indian Clubs and Dumb Bellt. 

No. 262 Medicine Ball Exercises. 

No. 29 Pulley Weight Exercises. 

No. 191 How to Punch the Bag. 

No. 289 Tumbling for Amateurs. 

No. 326 Professional Wrestling. 

Group XV. Gymnastics 

No. 104 Grading of Gymnastic Exer- 
cises. [Dumb Bell Drills. 

No. 214 Graded Cal i sthenics and 

No. 254 Barnjum Bar Bell Drill. 

No. 158 Indoor and Outdoor Gym- 
nastic Games. 

No. 124 How to Become a Gymnast. 

No. 287 Fancy Dumb Bell and March- 
ing Drills. [Apparatus. 

No. 327 Pyramid Building Without 

No. 328 Exercises on the Parallel Bars. 

No. 329 Pyramid Building with 
Wands, Chairs and Ladders 
GYMNASTIC AUXILIARY 

No. 333 Official Handbook I. C. A. A. 
Gymnasts of America. 

Group XVI. Physical Culture 

No. 161 Ten Minutes' Exercise for 

Busy Men. [giene. 

No. 208 Physical Education and Hy- 

No. 149 Scientific Physical Training 

and Care of the Body. 
No. 142 Physical Training Simplified. 
No. 185 Hints on Health. 
No. 213 285 Health Answers. 
No. 238 Muscle Building. [nine. 

No. 234 School Tactics and Maze Bun- 
No. 261 Tensing Exercises, [nasties. 
No. 285 Health by Muscular Gym- 
No. 288 Indigestion Treated by Gym- 
No. 290 Get Well: Keep Well, [nasties. 
No. 325 Twenty-Minute Exercises. 
No. 330 Physical Training for the 
School and Class Room. 



ANY OF THE ABOVE BOOKS MAILED POSTPAID UPON RECEIPT OF 10 CENTS 



SPALDING ATHLETIC LIBRARY 



Group I. Base Ball 



The leading Base Ball 
annual of the country, and 
the official authority of 
the game. Contains the 
ollicial playing rules, with 
an explanatory index of the 
rules compiled by Mr. A. G. 
Spalding: pictures of all 
the teams in the National, 
leagues ; re- 
; college Base Ball, 



American 

views of the 

and a great deal of interesting 

formation. Price 10 cents. 

No 

Edited by Tim Murnane. New and 
revised edition. Illustrated with pic- 
tures showing how all the various 
curves and drops are thrown and por- 
traitsof leading players. Price 10 cents, 
IVo. 223— How to Bat. > 

There is no better way of becoming 
a proficient batter than by reading this 
book and practising the directions. 
Numerous illustrations. Price 10 cents. 

the 



No. 232— How to Ho 
> BaMes. 

This book gives clear and concise 
directions for excelling as a base run- 
ner; tells when to run and when not to 
do so; how and when to slide: team 
work on the bases: in fact, every point 
of the game is thoroughly explained. 
Illustrated. Price 10 cents. 
>o. 230— How to Piteli. 

A new. up-to-date book. Its contents 
»re the practical teaching of men who 
have reached the top as pitchers, and 
who know how to impart a knowledge 
of their art. All the big leagues' 
pitchers are shown. Price 10 cents. 
IVo. 229— How to Cntcli. 

Every boy who has hopes of being a 
clever catcher should read how well- 
known players cover their position. 
Pictures of all the noted catchers in 
the big leagues. Price 10 cents. 



Illustrated with pictures of all the 
prominent first basemen. Price 10 cents, 
No. 22G— How to Play Second 
Bnse. 

The ideas of the best second basemen 
have been incorporated in this book for 
the especial benefit of boys who want 
to know the fine points of play at this 
pointof thediamond. Price 10 cents. 
No. 227— How to Play Third 
BoLHe. 

Third base is, in some respects, the 
most important of the infield. All the 
jKJints explained. Price 10 cents. 
No. 22S— How to Play Short- 
atop. 

Shortstop is one of the hardest posi- 
tions on the infield to fill, and quick 
thought and quick action are necessary 
for a player who expects to make good 
as a shortstop. IIlus. Price 10 cents. 

No. 224— How to Play the 
Outfleld. 

An invaluable guide for the out- 
fielder. Price 10 cents. 

Coach; Hotf 
1 n. Team; Hott 
* a Team; Hott 
«: How to Or- 
I.eatrue; Tech- 
na of Bane Ball. 
A JBof ul ffuide. Price 10 cent«. 



to Lliiiplr 
jcaiiJxe a 
nioal Ter 



\o 21!>— Ready Reckoner of 
Base Ball Percenta»?ea. 

To supply a demand f.ira book wl.ich 
would show the percentage of clubs 
without recourse to the »rduous work of 
figuring, the publisher.^ had these tables 
compiled by an expert Price 10 cents. 

B\SK BAI.I^ ALtli.IARlE:S. 

Something new in Base Ball. Con- 
tains records of all kinds from the be- 
ginning of the National League and 
official averages of all professional or- 
ganizations for past season. 10 cents. 

No. 310-Minor I.eaeue Baae 
Ball Guide. 

The minors' own guide. Edited by 
President T. H, Murnane. of the New 
England League. Price 10 cents. 

\o. 320— Official Handbook 
4>t the >ationaI l.euf^iie 
of ProfesMioual Ba«e Ball 
Clubs. 

Contains the Constitution. By-Laws. 
Official Rules. Averages, and schedule 
of the National League for the current 
year, together with list of club officers 
and reports of the annual meetings of 
the League. Price 10 cents. 

No. 321— OITIcial Handbook 
National Playi^rouiid Bull 
As-sociation. 

This game is specially adapted for 
playgrounds, parks, etc.. is spreading 
rapidly. The book contains a descrip- 
tion of the game, rules and officers. 
Price 10 cents. 



Group n. Foot Ball 

No. 2— Spiildin^'H Official 
Foot Ball Gnide. 

Edited by Walter Camp. 
I Contains the new rules, 
ith diagram of field; All- 
meiica teams as selected 
y the leading authorities; 
?views of the game from 
arious sections of the 
■)untry: scores; pictures, 
rice 10 cents. 
No. 3.34— Code of the Foot 
Ball RnleN. 
This book is meant for the use of 
Officials, to help them to refresh their 
memories before a game and to afford 
them a quick means of ascertaining a 
point during a game. It also gives a 
ready means of finding a rule in the 
Official Rule Book, and is of great help 
to a player in studying the Rules. 
Compiled by C. W. Short, Harvard. 190S. 
Price 10 cents. 

No. 324— How to Play Foot 
Ball. 

Edited by Walter Camp, of Yale. 
Everything that a beginner wants to 
know and many points that an expert 
will be glad to learn. Snapshots of 
leading teams and players in action, 
with comments by Walter Camp. 
Price 10 cents. 

No. 2A— Spalding's Official 
Associiiiion Soccer Foot 
Ball Guide. 

A complete and up-ti 
date guide to the "Soccer"] 
game in the United States.] 
containinginstructions for 
playing tlTfe game, official 
rules, and interesting 
news from all parts of the 
country. Illustrated. Price 
10 ceat3. 





No. 2SG— How to Play Soc- 
cer. 

How each position should be played. 
written by the best player in England 
in his respective position, and illus- 
trated with full-page photographs of 
players in action. Price 10 cents. 

FOOT BAM. AtXILIAKIBS. 
No. 33^— SpaldinR'a Official 
Canadian Foot Ball 

Guide. 

The official book of the game in Can* 
ada. Price 10 cents. 

Group ni. Cricket 

:{— S|ialdinK*s Official 



The most complete year 
book of the game that has 
ever been published in 
A m e r i c a. Reports of 
special matches, official 
rules and pictures of all 
the leading teams. Price 
10 cents. 



No. 2TT— Cricket; and How 
to Play it. 

By Prince Ranjitsinhjf. The game 
described concisely and illustrated with 
full-pape pictures posed especially for 
this book. Price 10 cents. 




Group IV. 



Lawn 
Tennis 



No. 4— Spalding:*" Official 
Lawn Tennis Annual. 

Contents include reports 
of all important tourna- 
ments: official ranking 
from 18S5 to date; laws of 
lawn tennis; instructions 
for handicapping; decir 
sions on doubtful points; 
management of touma- 

ments; directory of clubs; 

t and keeping a court, Illus? 
trated. Price 10 cents. 




. 157- He 
Tennis. 



to Flay Liawn 



A complete description of lawn ten- 
nis: a lesson for beginners and direc- 
tions telling how to make the most im- 
portant strokes. Illustrated. Price 
10 cents. 



By P. A. Vaile. a leading authority 
on the game in Great Britain. Every 
stroke in the game is accurately illus- 
trated and analyzed by the author. 



Group V. 

No. <'>— Spnldinc:*s 
Golf Guide. 

Contains records of all 
important tournaments, 
articles on the game in 
various sections of the 
country, pictures of prom- 
inent players, othcial play- 
ing rules and general 
items of interest. Price 



Golf 



10 c 



nts. 




No, 27C— How to Play Golf, 

By James Braid and Harry Vardon, 
the world's two greatest players tell, 
how they play the game, with numen 
ous full-page jiicturfs of them takeiil 
on t)ie links. Pric« iU ccal& 



SPALDING ATHLETll LIBRARY 




Group VI. Hockey 

IMo. «»Si>nI.Uii6-"s Ofllciol Ice 
HocUey Guide. 

The official year book of 
the game. Contains the 
official rules, pictures of 

I leading teams and players, 
records, review "of the 
season, reports from dif" 

I ferent sections of the 
Un ited States and Canada. 

' Price 10 cents. 

No. 304— HoTv to Piny Ice 
HocUey. 

Con.tains a description of the duties 
of each player. Illustrated. Price 10 
cents. 

No. 154— Fielil Hockey. 

Prominent in the sports at Vassar, 
Smith. Wellesley, Bryn Mawrand other 
leading colleges. Price 10 cents. 

No. 1«S — I. awn Hockey, 
rarlor Hockey, Garden 
Hockey. 

Containing the rules for each game. 
Illustrated. Price 10 cents. 

No. l.SO— Ring Hockey. 

A new game for the gymnasium. 
Exciting as basket ball. Price 10 cents. 

HOCKEY AlAlLIAnY. 
No. ast;— omcial Handbook 
of the Ontario Hockey 
Association. 

Contains the official rules of the 
Association, constitution, rules of com- 
petition, list of officers, and pictures of 
leading players. Price 10 cents. 

Basket 
Group VII. Ball 




Group VIII. Bowling 

S— SpaldinB'.s OfflcinI 
nline Guide. 

The contents include: 
diagrams of effective de- 
liveries: hints to begin- 
ners' how to score: official 
rules; spares, how they 
are made: rulesforcocked 
hat, quintet, cocked hat 
and feather, battle game, 
etc. Price 10 cents. 

,„ Indoor 
Group IX. Base Ball 

No. !)— Spaldinji's OH 
door Ba.-se Ball 

America's national game 
is now vicing with other 
indoor games as a wintei 
pastime. This book con- 
tains the playing rules. 
pictures of leading teams, 
and interesting articles on 
the game by leading au- 
thorities on the subject 
Price 10 cents. 



Group X. 





No. T— Spalding'.s 
Basket Ball Gu 

Edited by George T. 
Hepbron. Contains the 
revised official rules, de- 
cisions on disputed points. 
records of prominent 
teams, reports on the game- 
from various parts of the 
country. Illustrated. Price 
10 cents. 

No. !»:!— How to Play Basket 
Ball. 

t)y G T. Hepbron. editor of the 
Official Basket Ball Guide. Illustrated 
with scenes of action. Price 10 cents. 

Mo. 31S-Omoial Basket Ball 
Guide for AVomen. 

Edited by Miss Senda Berenson. of 
Smith College. Contains the official 
playing rules and special articles on 
the game by prominent authorities. 
Illustrated. Price 10 cents. 

BASKET BALI, .AUXILIARY. 
No. 323— Collegiate Basket 
Ball Handbook. 

The official publication of the Colle- 
giate Basket Ball Association. Con- 
tains the official rules, records, All- 
America selections, reviews, and pic- 
tures. Edited by H. A. Fisher, of 
Qelombia. Price 10 cents. , 



I'olo Guide. 

Edited by J. C. Morse. 
A full description of the 
game; official rules, re- 
cords: pictures of promi- 
nent players. Price IC cents 

No. 129— Water Polo. 

The contents of this book treat of 
every detail, the individual work of the 
players, the practice of the team, how 
to throw the ball, with illustrations and 
many valuable hints. Price 10 cents. 
\o. 1!>!)— Equestrian Polo. 

Compiled by H. L. Fitzpatrick of the 
New York Sun. Illustrated with por- 
traits of leading players, and contains 
most useful information for polo play- 
ers. Price 10 cents. i 

___Miscellane-' 
Group XI. ous Games 

No. 201— Lacrosse. 

Every position is thoroughly ex- 
plained in a most simple and concise 
manner, rendering it the best manual 
of the 'game ever, published. Illus- 
trated with numerous snapshots of im- 
portant plays. Price 10 cents. 
No. 322— Offlcial Hanilbook 
II. S. Inter-Collegiate La- 
crosse League. 

Contains the constitution, by-laws, 
playing rules, list of officers and records 
of the association. Price 10 cents. 
No. 271- Spalding's Official 
Roque Guide. 

The official publication of the Na- 
tional Roque Association of America. 
Contains a description of the courts 
and their construction, diagrams, illus- 
trations, rules and valuable informa- 
tion. Price 10 cents. 
No. 13S— Spalding's Official 
Croquet Guide 

Contains directions for playing, dia- 
grams of important strokes, description 
of grounds, instructions for the begin- 
ner, terms used in the game, and the 
official playing rules. Price 10 cents. 



No. 24S— Archery. 

A new and up-to-date book on this 
fascinating pastime. The several 
varieties of archery: instructions for 
shooting: how to select implements: 
how to score: and a great deal of inter- 
esting information. Illustrated. Price 
to cents. 

No. 104— Racquets, Squash- 
Racquets and Court Ten- 



How to play each game is thoroughly 
explained, and all the difficult strokes 
shown by special photographs taken 
especially for this book. Contains the 
official rules for each game. Price 10 
cents. 
No. 167— Quoits. 

Contains a description of the plays 
used by experts and the official rules. 
Illustrated. Price 10 cents. 

No. 170— Push Ball. 

This book contains the official rules 
and a sketch of the game; illustrated. 
Price 10 cents. 

No. 13— How to Ploy Hand 
Ball. 

By the world's champion. Michael 
Egan. Every play is thoroughly ex- 
plained by text and diagram. Illus- 
trated. Price 10 cents. 
No. 14— Corllug. 

A short history of this famous Scot- 
tish pastime, with instructions for 
play, rules of the game, definitions of 
terms and diagrams of different shots. 
Price 10 cents. 

No. 207— Bowllns on the 
Green; or, La^vn Bowls. 

How to construct a green: how to 
play the game, and the official rules 
of the Scottish Bowling Association. 
Illustrated. Price 10 cents. 
No. ISO— Children's Games. 

These games are intended for use at 
recesses, and all but the team games 
have been adapted to large classes. 
Suitable for children from three to 
eight years, and inclndeagreat variety. 
Price 10 cents. 
I No. ISS— La^fn Games. 

Lawn Hockey. Garden Hockey. Hand 
Tennis. Tether Tennis: also Volley 
Ball. Parlor Hockey. Badminton, Bas- 
ket Goal. Price 10 cents. 

Group Xn. Athletics 

No. 12— Spalding's Official 
Athletic Aluinnac. 

Compiled by J. E. Sulli- 
van. President of the Ama- 
teur Athletic Union. The 
only annual publication 
now issued that contains 
a complete list of amateur 
best-on-records: intercol- I 

legiate, swimming, inter- L 

scholastic, English, Irish. Scotch, 
Swedish. Continental. South African, 
Australasian; numerous photos of in- 
dividual athletes and leading athletic 
teams. Price 10 cents. 




No. 27— College Athletics. 

M. C. Murphy, the well-known ath; 
letic trainer, now with Pennsylvania 
the author of this book, has written i 
especially for the schoolboy and collegt 
man, but it is invaluable for the athlet* 
who wishes to excel in any branch o 
athletic sport; profusely illustrate^ 
Price 10 cents. 



SPALDING ATHLETIC LIBRARY 



No. ylS2— All-Aronnd Ath- 
letics. 

Gives- in full the method of scoring' 
the All-Around Championship; how to 
train for the AlUAround Champion- 
ship. Illustrated. Price 10 cents. 

No. 15G— Athlete's Gatde. ^ 

Full instructions for the beginner, 
telling how to sprint, hurdle, jump and 
throw weights, general hints on train- 
ing; valuable advice to beginners and 
important A. A. U. rules and their ex- 
planations, while the pictures comprise 
many scenes of champions in action. 
Price 10 cents. 

No* 273— The Olympic Games 
at Athens. 

'% complete account of the Olympic 
Games of 1906. at Athens, the greatest 
International Athletic Contest ever 
held. Compiled by J. E. Sullivan. 
Special United States Commissioner to 
the Olympic Games. Price 10 cents. 

No. 87— Athletic Primer. 

Edited by J. E. Sullivan. President 
of the Amateur Athletic Union. Tells 
how to organize an athletic ciub, how 
to conduct an athletic meeting, and 
gives rules for the government of ath- 
letic meetings; contents also include 
directions for laying out athletic 
grounds, and a very instructive article 
on training. Price 10 cents. 

No. 252— How to Sprint. 

Every athlete who aspires to be a 
sprinter can study this book to advan- 
tage. Price 10 cents. 

No. 256— How to Ran 100 
Yards. 

By J. W. Morton, the noted British 
champion. Many of Mr. Morton's 
methods of training are novel to 
American athletes but his success is 
the best tribute to their worth- Illus- 
trated. Price 10 cents. 

No. 174— Distance nnd Cross- 
Country Rnnningr* 

.^y George Orton. the famous Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania runner. The 
quarter, half, mile, the longer dis- 
tances, and cross-country running and 
steeplechasing, with instructions for 
training; pictures of leading athletes 
in action, with comments by the editor. 
Price 10 cents. 

No. 250- Wel»rht Throwing. 

Probably no other man in the world 
has had the vaj'ied and long experience 
of James S. Mitchel. the author, in the 
weight throwing department of ath- 
letics. The book gives valuable infor- 
mation not only for the novice, but for 
the expert as well. Price 10 cents. 

JiO. 246— Athletic Trainlngr 
for Schoolboy's. 

By Geo. W. Orton. Each event in the 
Intercollegiate programme is treated 
of separately. Price 10 cents. 

Oo. > 55— Official Sportlnff 
Rales. 

Contains rules not found in other 
publications for the government of 
many sports; rules for wrestling, 
shufHeboard, snowshoeing. profes- 
Bional racing, pigeon shooting, dog 
racing, pistol and revolver shooting, 
British water polo rules, Ruffby foot 
h»ll rulea. Price 10 cents. 



ATHLETIC AUXILIAR1E:S. 

^o» 311— Official Handbook 
of the A.A.U. 

The A. A. U. is the governing body 
of athletes in the United States of 
America, and all games must be held 
under its rules, which are exclusively 
published in this handbook, and a copy 
should be in the hands of every athlete 
and every club officer in America. 
Also includes a very interesting article 
on "The Growth of American Ath- 
letics.'* and a short biography of each 
member of the Board of Governors. 
Price 10 cents. 



Contains constitution, by-laws. 

laws of athletics: records from 1S76 to 
date. Price 10 cents. 

No. 308— Official Handbook 
New York InterMclioU 
nNtic Athletic Associa- 
tion. 

Contains the Association's records, 
constitution and by-laws and other 
information. Price 10 cents. 



Contains the official rules governing 
all sports under the jurisdiction of the 
Y. M. C. A., official Y. M. C. A. scoring 
tables, pentathlon rules, pictures of 
leading Y. M. C. A athletes. Price 
10 cents. 

No. 313— Official Handbook 
of the Public Schools 
Athletic Lens:iie. 

Edited by Dr, C. Ward Crampton. 
director of physical education in the 
Public Schools of Greater New York. 
Illustrated. Price 10 cents. 

No. 314— Official Handbook 
Girls' Branch of the 
Public Schools Atliletic 
League. 

The official publication. Contains: 
constitution and' by-laws, list of offi- 
cers, donors, founders, life and annual 
members, reports and inu;itrations. 
Price 10 cents. 



By J. E. Sullivan. President Amateur 
Athletic Union and member of Board 
of Education of Greater New York, An 
invaluable handbook for the teacher 
and the pupil. Gives a systematic 
plan for conducting school athletic con- 
tests and instructs how to prepare for 
the various events. Illustrated, Price 
10 cents. 

No. 317— Marathon Hannin^. 

A new and up-to-date book on this 
popular pastime. Contains pictures 
of the leading Marathon runners, 
methods of training, and best times 
made in various Marathon events. 
Price 10 cents. 



Group Xin. Athletic 
Accomplishments 

No. 177— How to STTim. 

Will interest the expert as well as 
the novice; the illustrations were made 
from photographs especially posed, 
showing the swimmer in clear water; 
a valuable feature is the series of 
' land drill "exercises for the bearinner. 
Price 10 cents. 



No. 128— How to Row. 

By E. J. Giannini. of the New York 
Athletic Club, one of America's moat 
famous amateur oarsmen and cham- 
pions. Shows how to hold the oars, 
the finish of the stroke and other valu- 
able information. Price 10 cents. 
No. :£9«f— Speed Swlmminff. 

By Champion C. M. Daniels of the 
New York Athletic Club team, holder 
of numerous American records, and the 
best swimmer in America qualifred to 
write on the subject. Any boy should 
be able to increase his speed in the 
water after reading Champion Daniels' 
instructions on the subject. Price 10 
cents. 

No. 23— Canoeing. 

Paddling, sailing, cruising and rac- 
ing canoes and their uses; with hints 
on rig and management: the choice of 
a canoe; sailing canoes, racing regula- 
tions; canoeing and camping. Fully 
illustrated. Price 10 cents. 

No, 2Ui> — Hon- to Become a 
Skater. 

Contains advice for beginners; how 
to become a figure skater, showing how 
to do all the different tricks of the beat 
figure skaters. Pictures of prominent 
skaters and numerous diagrams. Price 
10 cents. 

No. 2S2— Official Roller Skat- 
ing Guide. 

Directions for becoming a fancy and 
trick roller skater, and rules for roller 
skating. Pictures of prominent trick 
skaters in action. Price 10 cents. 

No. 17.S— How to Train for 
Dieyclins. 

Gives methods of the best riders 
when training for long or shortdistance 
races; hints on training. Revised and 
up-to-date in every particular. Price 

10 cents. 

Group XIV. ^^^ 

No. 140— \Vre»tllne. 

Catch-as-catch-can style. Seventy 
illustrations of the different holds, pho- 
tographed especially and so described 
that anybody can with little effort learn 
every one. Price 10 cents. 

No. IS— Fenclngr. 

By Dr. Edward Breck. of Bostonv 
editor of The Swordsman, a promi- 
nent amateur fencer. A book that has 
stood the test of time, and is universally 
acknowledged to be a standard work. 
Illustrated. Price 10 cents. 

No. 1C2— DoxinfiT Gnlde. 

Con tains over 70 pages of illustrations 
showing all the latest blows, posed 
especially for this book under the super- 
vision of a well-known instructor of 
boxing, who makes a specialty of teach- 
ing and knows how to impart his 
knowledge. Price 10 cents. 

No. 165— The Art of FenclnfiT 

By Regis and Louis Senac. of New 
York, famous instructors and leading 
authorities on the subject. Gives in 
detail how every move should be made. 
Price 10 cents. 

No. 236— How to Wrestle. 

The most complete and up-to^lata 
book on wrestling ever published. 
Edited by F. R. Toombs, and devoted 
principally to special poses and illustra- 
tions by George Hackenschmidt, the 
I "Russian Lion." price 10 cento. 



SPALDING ATHLETIC LIBRARY 



No. 102— Ground Tamblins> 

Any boy, by reading this book and 
followinjir the instructions, can become 
proficient. Price 10 cents. 

Ho. :£»!>— Tumbling for Ama- 

tenrs. 

Specially compiled for amateurs by 
Dr.JamesT. Gwathmey. Every variety 
of the pastime explained by text and 
pictures, over 1(K> different positions 
beinsr shown. Price 10 cents. 

No. 1!>1— How to Punch the 

The best treatise on bag punching 
that has ever been printefl. Every va- 
riety of blow used in training is shown 
and explained, with a chapter on fancy 
bag punching by a well-known theatri- 
cal bag puncher. Price 10 cents. 



By America'samateurchampionclub 
swinger, J. H. Dougherty. It is clearly 
illustrated, by which any novice can 
become an expert. Price 10 cents. 

No. 200— Diimb-Dells. 

The best work on dumb-bells that 
has ever been offered. By Prof. G. 
Bojus, of New York. Contains 200 
photographs. Should be in the hands 
of every teacher and pupil of physical 
culture, and is invaluable for home 
Price 10 cents. 



No. 2G2— Medicine Ball Ex- 
ercisea. 

A series of plain and practical exer- 
cises with the medicine ball, suitable 
for boys and girls, business and profes- 
Bional men. in and out of gymnasium. 
Price 10 cents. 



Nc 



29- Pulley AVelerht Eker- 



By Dr. Henry S. Anderson, instructor 
In heavy gymnastics Yale gymnasium. 
In conjunction with a chest machine 
anyone with this book can become 
perfectly developed. Price Id cents. 

No. 233— Jin Jitsa. 

Each move thoroughly explained and 
illustrated with numerous full-page 
pictures of Messrs. A. Minami and K. 
Koyama. two of the most famous ex- 
ponents of the art of Jiu Jitsu, who 
posed especially for this book. Price 
10 cents. 



By Prof. E. B. Warman. By follow- 
ing the directions carefully anyone can 
become an expert. Price 10 cents. 

No. 32G— Professional Wrest- 
ling. 

A book devoted to the catch-as-catch- 
can style; illustrated with half-tone 
pictures showing the different holds 
used- by Frank Gotch, champion catch- 
as-catch-can wrestler of the world. 
Posed by Dr. Roller and Charles Postl. 
By Ed. W. Smith. Sporting Editor of 
the Chicago American. Price 10 cents. 

Group XV. Gymnastics 

Ifo. 104— The Grading of 
Gnunastic Exercises. 

By G. M. Martin. A book that should 
be in the hands of every physical direc- 
tor of the y. M. C. A., echoot dul?. Wl* 
Ug«.«tc Fries 10 c«iit0. 



No. 214— Graded Calisthen- 
ics and Dumb-'Bell Drills. 

For years it has been the custom in 
most gymnasiums of memorizing a set 
drill, which was never varied. Conse- 
quently the beginner was given the 
same kind and amount as the older 
member. With a view to giving uni- 
formity the present treatise is at- 
tempted. Price 10 cents. 

No. 254— Barn jum Bar Bell 
Drill. 

Edited by Dr. R. Tait McKenzie. 
Director Physical Training, University 
of Pennsylvania. Profusely illustrated. 
Price 10 cents. 

So. 1S8— In«1oor and Ontdoor 
Gyiunastic Gnmes. 

A book that will prove valuable to in- 
door and outdoor gymnasiums, schools, 
outings and gatherings where there 
are a number to be amused. Price 10 
cents. ) 

No. 124 — Ho^v to Become a 

Gymnast. 

By Robert Stoll. of the New York 
A. C, the American champion on the 
flying rings from 1885 to 1892. Any boy 
can easily become proficient with a 
little practice. Price 10 cents. 

Xo. 2H7— Fancy Dumb Bell 
and .Marching: Drills. 

All concede that games and recreative 
exercises during the adolescent period 
are preferable to set drills and monoton- 
ous movements. These drills, while de- 
signed primarily for boys, can be used 
successfully with girls and men and 
women. Profusely illustrated. Price 
10 cents. 



By W. J. Cromie. Instructor of 
Gymnastics. University of Pennsyl- 
vania. With illustrations showing 
many different combinations. This 
book should be in the hands of all gym- 
nasium instructors. Price 10 Cents. - 



By W. J. Cromie. Every gymnast 
should procure a copy of this book. 
Illustrated with cuts showing many 
novel exercises. Price 10 cents. 

No. a2t»— Pyrnnild Buildlnf? 
witli Chairs, Wands and 
Ladders. 

By W. J. Cromie. Illustrated with 
half-tone photopraphs showing many 
interesting combinations. Price 10 
cents. 

GYMNASTIC AUXILIARY. 
No. 3.13— Official Handbook 

Inter-Colle^iate Associn- 

tion Anintcnr Gymnasts 

of America. 
Edited by P. R. Carpenter, Physical 
Director Amherst College. Contains 
pictures of leading teams and individual 
champions, official rules governing con- 
tests, records. Price 10 cents. 

Group XVI. cufture 

No. 101— Ten Minntes' Exei- 
ci.e for Busy Men. 

By Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick. Direc- 
tor of Physical Training in the New 
York Public Schools. A concise and 
c«mplete course of pbysieal education. 

Trie* U ««Dt» 



No. 20S_pliyslcal Education 
nnd Hygiene. 

This is the fifth of the Physical 
Training series, by Prof. E. B. Warman 
(see Nos. 142. 149. 166. 185. 213.261. 290.) 
Price 10 cents. 

No. 149— The Careotthe Dody. 

A book that all who value health 
should read and follow its instructions. 
By Prof. E. B. Warman. the well-known 
lecturer and authority on physical cul- 
ture. Price 10 cents. 

No. 142— I'hysical Tralnins 
Siiu|>litled. 

By Prof. E. B. Warman. A complete, 
thorough and practical book where the 
whole man is considered — brain and 
body. Price 10 cents. 
No. IS.-;— Ilealtl) Hints. 

By Prof. E. B. Warman. Health in- 
fluenced by insulation; health influ- 
enced by underwear; health influenced 
by color: exercise. Price 10 cents. 
No. Sia— 285 Health Ansn-ers. 

By Prof. E. B. Warman. Contents: 
ventilating a bedroom: ventilating n 
house; how to obtain pure air; bathing: 
salt water baths at home; a substitute 
for ice water; to cure insomnia, etc.. 
etc. Price 10 cents. 

No. 2;!.S— Muscle BnildinK. 

By Dr. L. H. Gulick, Director of Phy- 
sical Training in the New York Public 
Schools. A complete treatise on the 
correct method of acquiring strength. 
Illustrated. Price 10 cents. 

No. 2.t4— School Tactica and 
Mar.e Kuiiuiiij;. 

A seriesof drills for the use of schools. 
Edited by Dr. Luther. Halsey Gulick. 
Director of Physical Training in the 
New York Public Schools. Price 10 
cents. 
No. 201— Tensluer ExercUes. 

By Prof. E. B. Warman. The "Ten, 
sing" or "Resisting" system of mus- 
cular exercises is the most thorough, 
the most complete, the most satisfac- 
tory, and the most fascinating of sys- 
tems. Price 10 cents. 

No. 2.'!«5— Health: by Muaea- 
lar GyninaNtiCK, 

With hints on right living. By W. J. 
Cromie. If one will practice the exer- 
cises and observe the hints therein 
contained, he will be amply repaid for 
so doing. Price 10 cents. 

No. 288— Indigestion Treated 
by tiyninaHtics 

By W. J. Cromie. If the hints there- 
in contained are observed and the 
exercises faithfully performed great 
relief will be experienced. Price 10 
cents. 



By Prof. E. B. Warman, author of a 
number of books in the Spalding Ath- 
letic Library on physical traininfr. 
Price 10 cents. 

No. ;{2r;— Twenty- Minute Ex- 
ercises. 

By Prof. E. B. Warman. with chap. 
ters on "How to Avoid Growing Old," 
and "Fasting; Its Objects and Bene- 
fits." Price 10 cents. 



Kooin. 

Edited by G. R. Borden, Physical 
Director of the Y. M. C. A., Easton. Pa. 
A book that is for practical work in 
the school room. Uluatrated. Fric* 
;Oceot«. 




A. G. SPALDING 

From Photooraph Taken in Sax Francisco 
ix November, 1879 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 
GROUP I., No. 202 



HOW TO PLAY 
BASE BALL 



NEW EDITION 



WRITTEN BY 

TIM MURNANE 



published by the 
American Sports Publishing Company 

21 WARREN street, NEW YORK 



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Copyright. 1910 , 

BY 

American Sports Publishing Compani 
New York 



©cuasfiess 



lD-4m'S 



CONTENTS 

Preface .... I 

Introduction . . 

The Art of Pitching 

The Catching Department 

The Infield of a Ball Team. 

Playing the Outfield 

The Fine Art of Batting 

The Art of Base-Running 

The Squeeze Play , 

The Delayed Steal . 

The Art of Throwing 

The Use of Signals . 

Short Talks on a Variety of Base Ball Topics. 

Spalding's Simplified Base Ball Rules . 



PAGE 

5 
7 

23 
35 
39 
49 
53 
59 
67 
69 
71 
7i 
74 
83 




T. H. MURNANE, 
The editor of this book, was a famous old-time ball player, and is 
now one of the leading authorities on the game; is sporting editor 
of the "Boston Globe," President of the New England League, and 
member of the Board of Arbitration of the National Association of 
Professional Base Ball Leagues. 



PREFACE 

Twelve years an active player, and for the last nineteen years 
a reporter of major league games for the daily press, should 
place one in a position to tell the real from the counterfeit in 
Base Ball. 

I claim no man is in a position to compare the present with 
the past if he has not witnessed the games of ten and twenty 
years ago, at a time when the great developers of the game 
were in their prime, and when the real genius was prominent. 

I will endeavor to show how the game should be played to 
gain the greatest success for the club, and not the individual, 
for a team of stars would not be successful in a season's cam- 
paign against an inferior team, pulling together and handled 
intelligently. 

By carefully noting the playing of the major league stars and 
winning combinations I have learned valuable lessons during the 
past season, for there are ever some new combinations being 
developed on the ball field. 

Beside carefully noting the points I thought might be valuable 
for this little work, I have quoted the best I could find from 
the experience of some great players. All aimed to give the 
reader a thorough knowledge of the playing of the game from 
winning angles. 

I have taken special pains to note the work of the successful 
pitchers, the clever batsmen, the run getters and the work of 
superior infielders. 

One chapter is devoted to the disturbing element of the game 
and is just as important as any other for a team trying to gain 
a high position in the race. 

The descriptions of the plays have been given in an off-hand 
manner, as the bail player as well as the fan seldom enjoys Base 
Ball screeds or stories dished up in pure English, without the 
trimmings. I fully believe this book will prove more interesting 
to my readers than even the previous number. 

All that I claim for this little book is originality. 

T. H. M. 




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INTRODUCTION 

The fundamental principles of Base Ball are as follows t 

First. 
The selection of players for nine different positions. 

Second. 
Individual and team training. 

Third. 
Perfect harmony and physical condition. 

Fourth. 
A thorough study of your opponents' style of play. 

Fifth. 
Adapting old plays and developing new ones. 

Sixth. 
A keen sense as to when to take long chances. 

Seventh. 
Playing the game until the last man is out. 

Eighth. 
Placing authority with capable leaders. 

Ninth. 
Showing proper courtesy to opponents and officials. 

Tenth. 
With heart and head in the work and a disposition to prac- 
tice vigorously. 

In selecting the different candidates for the nine positions of 
a ball team I would pick a catcher with good range, an accurate 
thrower from any position, a cool-headed man, who would note 
every move on the field, and one who would work well with his 
pitchers. It requires a heady man behind the bat, as the catcher 
is the one who must steer the game. Right-hand throwers are 
necessary and men who can stand hard work preferred. 




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SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 9 

For pitchers I would pick out men wlio could field their posi- 
tion well and the next requirement would be control of the ball. 
Pitchers come in all sizes. Therefore the only extra work would 
be in covering ground around the front yard and the speed to 
get to first base. Pitchers must be more than automatons to 
hold their own in fast company at the present time. 

I would pick a tall, rangy player for first base, a man who 
had a natural gift for taking pickups ; a left-hand thrower would 
be my choice, as they are in a position to throw to the other 
bases after picking up a grounder. 

I would pick a medium-sized, well-built player for second base. 

For third base I would select a medium-sized player with a 
good range and a strong arm, who could throw from any posi- 
tion, both over and underhand. 

For shortstop I would have a medium-sized man who could 
get over ground quickly and, being close to the turf, would be 
more perfect on ground balls than a larger player. 

In the outfield I would pick out all left-hand hitters and right- 
hand throwers ; men who were fast runners preferred. 

Individual training should consist of batting practice, bunting 
to third and first, with both right and left-hand pitchers in the 
box ; place hitting and cutting away for a long drive. Each 
player would practice base-running, and endeavor to evade being 
touched out when near a base. 

In running to first base on a long drive to the outfield each 
player should turn first base on the run, heading for second 
base, and return when it was evident the ball was intercepted 
by the fielder. If fumbled, the runner would keep on to second. 
If the ball was thrown to first, move to second instead of trying 
to get back to first, as the ball would have to be handled per- 
fectly to get the runner once out of four times. 

For field practice I would hit grounders to the outfielders at 
short range, as well as practice on long flies ; in fact, most out- 
fielders practice too little on ground balls, waiting to have the 
ball come to them, when the proper play is to come in and meet 
the grounder, keeping the ball well i'l front, and taking chances 
by trapping the ball before it rises for a sneak bound. 

The aggressive team always wins in Base Ball, just as the 
best batsmen step into the ball when pitched, while the weak 
batsmen pull away. 

College men are far ahead of professionals in sizing up their 
opponents. They go as far as keeping a record of each batsman, 
and each player is coached in the style of ball and to what field 
each opponent is likely to hit and the pitcher is supposed to 
work his man according to the information furnished by some 
expert, who has followed the other fellow for several games. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 11 

The development of team playing takes continual practice and 
a natural leader; then it is up to the skill and heart of the 
plavers. 

High class players figure out the percentage of chances from 
experience. Where the hitting is light the base-runners must 
take long chances; where the score is close they must also take 
long chances. When in the lead it pays to be conservative, but 
when making an up-hill fight long chances should be taken with 
the batting, and base-running must be played for a certainty. 
The catcher mast be a judge of when a base-runner will take 
a chance, and then work with his pitcher. The pitcher must 
call the turn when a batsman intends to bunt-hit for the base- 
runner as well as when laying for a long drive. The first- 
baseman should call the turn on the batsman, to be in shape to 
make a play to the other bases. The shortstop and second- 
baseman should size up the batsman and runner when out for 
the hit-and-run game and be careful not to leave an opening. 
The great men of these positions never move until sure the ball 
will not be hit at when they start for the base and who are 
capable of taking a sharp throw from the catcher under a full 
headway. In this style of work all catchers must be well 
trained to throw dead over second between knee high and the 
shoulder to get a fast man. 

Third base is the most difficult position on a ball field at the 
present time, as one must be in for the bunts and back for the 
hard drives. The third-baseman should take every grounder 
that he can get his hands on and must be equally sure with 
either hand, as the wide grounders to his left must be picked 
up on the run with one hand as well as the slow bunts that 
must be thrown with the same hand that picked them up. 

I would always insist on perfect harmony, and where it was 
evident that a player failed to fit in nicely with his fellow players 
I would make a change even were I forced to take a weaker 
but more oliable man. I would keep a close watch on the 
players and' note their physical condition daily, and when out of 
condition would not insist on their working, prefering to save 
the good men for another time when they would have more 
heart for their work and inspire the other players. 

I would engage a club physician that would make a thorough 
examination of each man at least monthly and give the manage- 
ment an honest report. Ball players must be in fine condition 
to go through a season and do their best work. Players who 
would refuse to keep in shape would be marked for the ex- 
change list at once, as harmony and condition are absolutely 
necessary to keep to the front. 

It should be the duty of the captain and manager of a team 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 13 

to Study the work of each opponent, and then talk the matter 
over with the other members of the team, mapping out a hne of 
defence and also a line of attack, after discovering the weakness 
of the other teams. 

The plans should be concealed as much as possible, but so 
thoroughly understood and practiced that there will be no 
bungling. 

The aggressive end of the game must start with the pitcher 
and continue with the base-running and batting. The defence in 
Base Ball is in placing your men in a position to face the batted 
balls and in throwing. 

In developing plays for a team the standard moves ca.inot 
be passed up and must be perfected before undertaking new ones. 
New combination plays are scarce ; in fact, years often go by 
without a new one being introduced; still, the old plays, varied, 
will make considerable difiference. A bunting team can be 
stopped by bringing the third-baseman up, thereby forcing the 
batsmen to hit out; in this case the shortstop is forced to come 
around well towards third, playing a deep field to get the hard 
drives that would pass a third-baseman playing close in to stop 
bunting. In studying your opponent it is often necessary to 
make a move to draw him out and then change on the next play. 

The shortstop should make a point of covering third when 
the third-baseman goes in for a ground ball. The second-base- 
man should make a point of covering first base when the first- 
baseman goes in for a slow grounder, as the pitcher will very 
often interfere and fail to cover the base, as he would on a fast 
grounder blocked by the first-baseman. Covering first and third 
base by the second-baseman and shortstop has grown to be a 
very important factor in the winning of games. 

No play requires any more instinctive action than throwing to 
second by the third-baseman when looking for a force-out and 
often a double play. Sharp, but with medium speed, so the ball 
can be handled for a second throw. It has been the remarkable 
accuracy in this style of throwing that has made certain third- 
basemen extremely valuable to their teams. Collins, Bradley, 
Leach, Devlin, Lave Cross, Coughlin, Brain and Tannehill, in 
particular, of the present players, and Denney, Mulvey, Nash, 
Sutton, Whitney, McGraw, Burns and Ferguson of the retired 
stars, adding much to the development of the game by their all- 
round marvelous throwing. 

Outfielders should work together as if pulled by one string 
and receive a tip on just how the ball is to be delivered to the 
batsman. A strong outfield can make is very unpleasant for the 
heavy hitters. Less than ten per cent, of the players are place 
hitters and really know where the ball may go when they slug 



SrAT.niNCrg ATIlLETir LIBRARY. 15 

and meet the ball. The other ninety per cent, will hit to either 
the right or left field, eight out of ten times, and their hits 
anticipated. The left-hand batsmen are the easiest to play for, 
as they usually drive short liners to left, and swing for long 
drives to right field, seldom meeting the ball for a long hit to 
center field. 

Where one run might win a game, with a runner at second, 
it pays to bring the outfield in close, to make a sure out at the 
plate should the batsman hit a grounder to the outfield; all balls 
thrown to the home plate from the outfield should come in on 
a bound, two sharp bounds usually proving the surest way to 
get a runner, as the catcher can block his man as well as handle 
the ball. 

The difference between great ball teams and ordinary ones is 
the difference between quick thinking and stereotyped ball play- 
ing, or an actual negative condition when called on for brilliant 
work. 

Many players wor'; on the feeling of opponents and often 
manage to attract their attention away from the work in hand. 
This is not good Base Ball and sooner or later will act like a 
boomerang on the man who drops low enough to use these 
methods to win ball games. Nagging the umpire is a losing 
game, and the player v/lio treats the official with the most con- 
sideration is sure to get at I,nist all that is coming to him in 
the long run and especially on the road. 

Some managers will work to worry the official in hopes that 
he will weaken and rather than be made a target, give the 
kicker a shade the best of it. The lunpire, however, who will 
permit this line of attack is not fit for a berth in any Base Ball 
league. 

I have seen many games pulled out after two men were dovvn 
in the ninth, and the best advice one could heed is, never quit 
until the last man is out. A team with a reputation for playing 
to the close will always worry their opponents, while the team 
looked on as "quitters" will go down by the sure line. When 
behind, keep working hard with the hope that luck will over- 
take you and your opportvmity come before the day is over. 1 he 
winning ball player must be a man of .wholesale courage and 
saturated with the spirit of victory, even after man}' defeats. 

Luck plays a very important part in the game and it is almost 
impossible to be successful unless the cards break just a little 
better than even for 3'ou. There is not a team game known to 
man. where luck plays as many pranks as in Base Ball. The 
fierce drive may go into a fielder's mitt, while the scratch hit 
will drop safe just over the heads ot the infielder. In Base Ball 
you can force your luck by taking long chances and making 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 17 

unlooked-for plays. The reputation of the players should never 
disconcert you, for good team "work will discount a team of star 
players. 

Absolute authority should be placed in one person by the 
ov/ners of a ball team and this person should be allowed to 
work out his own campaign from start to finish, for he might 
have a poor lot of players and be held responsible, when he 
would have made a success of proper talent. The leader of a 
ball team must be in close touch with his men, who must have 
their utmost confidence. The players must feel that their leader 
knows his little book and he must be a man of kind heart, but 
game to the core. The leader is everything in the game, and no 
team has an earthly chance without a natural born leader. 

The best of players often make weak leaders, as they fail to 
hold the admiration of the players. The leader of a ball team 
cannot afford to show that he must depend on others, but, after 
listening to all advice given, must select his own course, holding 
every player down to the rank of a private, for all must slide 
and soil their uniforms if they expect to win ball games. 

The field leader can often listen to good advice from some 
retired Base Ball man, or even fans will see faults in a ball 
team. A good listener counts for much, and Frank G. Selee, 
the verjf best listener the game has turned out, was the gainer, 
for he took mental notes and turned to advantage liberal sug- 
gestions. 

No leader can succeed who humiliates his players or allows 
anyone to abuse them in his presence. Players have their off 
days and the man who leads them to victory or defeat must 
always champion their cause, when attacked from the outside. 

It was Napoleon who said that he would rather fight an army 
of lions led by a deer than an army of deer led by a lion. 

It is all in the leader, and nowhere anv more so than in Base 
Ball. 

As the greatest all-round leader the game ever produced I 
would pick President Charles A. Comiskey of the Chicago 
American League club. Comiskey is a leader of leaders, both 
on and off the ball field, setting a killing pace for all other as- 
pirants, but as modest as all great leaders should be. Comiskey 
gets the best out of every man by his clean-cut logic and kind 
treatment. 

I never could understand why professional ball players should 
try to injure each other, or, in fact, act other than friendly to 
one another, for the moment a player is considered capable of 
tripping or spiking a fellow player, he is sure to receive many 
bumps himself. Strict attention to business by each player is 
the only lasting composition for a ball team. The teams, who 




The out-curve is produced usually by grasping the ball with the first 
two fingers and the thumb, with the back of the hand turned downward. 
The fingers are pressed firmly against the ball, which is gripped tight. The 
out-curve may hs either fast or slow. 




•-__^ 



The in-curve is pitched with a side-arm motion, the ball being released 
over the tips of the first two fingers, the arm being swept around with a 
lateral motion. Some pitchers throw an in-curve by grasping the ball 
with all four fingers and permitting it to slip over the tips. 



SrALOING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 19 

win for a time by underhand methods, come to griei, and are 
soon forgotten, while the clean-cut playing teams are a source 
of pleasure to their friends after they have passed up the game. 

Men of the Jim Collins and Lave Cross stamp have played 
phenomenal ball for years without doing a trick to which the 
most delicate player could object, with the result that the 
players who would bother other basemen, would pass up the 
above-named two, as it was considered bad form to stretch a 
point with men of the above calibre. The result was that Collins 
and Cross played every game for years. 

Great ball players should never make a false move to win the 
most important game, and usually the great players are the 
cleanest kind of workmen. The day for tripping, holding and 
browbeating is gone, and let us hope forever. All men should 
be equal wlien they appear on a ball field, and nothing but their 
fair ball playing should go. 

It would not be a bad idea to pass laws preventing players 
from speaking to the umpires during a ball game, under a heavy 
penalty. The spectators keep an eye on the actions of the 
players and never make a protest until receiving their cue from 
the players. 

I would impress the pla\'ers with the importance of satisf^'ing 
the public who support the game so handsomely, by always 
showing a disposition to do their very best, for the public will 
stand for a team in hard luck if they only show they are in 
dead earnest every time they go out on the field. The public, 
too, are critical and are ever noting the physical condition of 
the players, and this should be an extra inducement for the boys 
to get in shape early and work to keep so all season. 

The man who makes Base Ball a profession should work 
morning as well as afternoon to perfect himself in the trade. 

Years ago, at Cleveland, a lot of star players went to the 
park every morning, but enjoyed the shade of the club house in 
preference to field work. There was one player more ambitious 
than the rest, who would go out and bat for hours at a time, 
with a crowd of boys fielding the ball. This young man met his 
fellow players several years later and reminded them of his 
practice work, remarking, "You are out of the game now, boys, 
while I am getting the money still." This man was Jesse 
Burkett. who led the National League several times, and who 
led the New England League last season, hitting the ball about 
as well as ever. He practiced while the others loafed and the 
result was that he is still getting the money, while they are down 
and out as far as Base Ball goes. 

Players should pay no attention to the spectators and play as 
if there was no music in the cheer or hiss of tjie fan. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY*. 21 

Practice at the bat, practice fielding" ground balls, practice 
fielding tiy balls, practice at every opportunity, for there is 
many a great ball player who became so only through the hardest 
kind of practice. 

Put life into your practice work, and make plays even quicker 
than if playing in a game. Fast practice develops fast ball 
playing, and fast ball playing wins ball games. 

All ball parks should be furnished with batting nets. In this 
way the batter can pick up the ball and toss it back to the 
pitcher, doing away with a catcher. If a player is not an accu- 
rate thrower, practice will make him so. Throw at a target 
daily and practice throwing with the wrist and elbow, without 
any assistance from the shoulder. -Snappy throwing from the 
wrist is easily developed by practice. 

Pitchers should never overdo the practice end of the game, as 
they get more than their share of work during the regular game. 

Catchers should practice throwing to second, covered and un- 
covered, and the outfielders should practice on ground balls and 
throwing in to the bases. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 23 



THE ART OF PITCHING 

It is usually the ambition of all ball players to be able to pitch 
a curve ball, and few great players have passed up a chance to 
become the regular pitcher of his team. There is a great fascina- 
tion about delivering a ball to a batsman, confined to certain 
limits, with an umpire to call balls and strikes, for the first 
essential in pitching is command of the ball in all the curves and 
shoots. 

Working a batsman is a fine art and comes after a full knowl- 
edge of the curves and up-to-date shoots that goes with a star 
box man. 

Temperament is another essential to success, for a pitcher can 
worry himself into poor work, especially when he expects the 
umpire to see every ball as he sees them as they head for the 
plate. 

A pitcher who never fails to cover first base when the ball is 
hit in that direction practical!}^ becomes a tenth man for his 
team, as he allows the first-baseman to make running stops well 
to his right, and come in under full steam for slow ones, knowing 
that the pitcher will cover the base for the throw. 

This play requires constant practice, and when missed should 
go down as an error for the boxman. 

Pitchers should work hard to perfect their fielding to the right, 
as clever men will take advantage and bunt the ball in that 
direction. 

Two preliminary motions are necessary for a pitcher : The 
free oflf-hand swing, to loosen out and get momentum before 
cutting the ball to the plate, when there is no one at first or 
second base, and the short, snappj' move, made before delivering 
the ball, with men on the bases. Each move requires almost as 
much practice as learning to curve the ball. 

The pitcher without a free, open action will soon tire and lose 
interest in his work, while the pitcher who can bring to bear the 
different parts of the body and go along with a free joint will 
prove a stayer. 

A pitcher must be resourceful and keep a close tab on the 
weakness of his opponents. 

Curve pitching was discovered and controlled for the first time 
on Jarvis Field, Cambridge, by Arthur Cummings, a Brooklyn 
amateur, in 1867, who proved that a ball sent spinning tnrough 



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SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 25 

the air would create a cushion and finally throw the sphere off 
a true course. Working on this theory, and often perhaps by 
accident, pitchers have discovered other curves and shoots, until 
no one man has mastered all the curves, and for this reason it is 
well to note what the different pitchers have to say about their 
styles since becoming successful. 

Tim Keefe was famous years ago, when a member of the 
original New York Giants, with a peculiar slow ball that no 
pitcher has been able to get since. Keefe held the ball well back 
in the hand and controlled the ball with the heel of his thumb, 
not allowing the fingers to touch the ball. It seemed utterly im- 
possible to control a ball in this manner, but Keefe did, and 
could hit a bull's eye nine times out of ten. It was a slow ball 
with a drop curve and started with a fast preliminary motion. 

Bobby Mathews in 1872 was the first to introduce a perfect 
raise curve. The raise used by McBride about the same time 
was the result of sending the ball with an underhand throw from 
close to the ground. Mathews made the ball spin like a top and 
come to a stop before rising as it came to the batsman and when 
not hit on the dead center. 

The raise curve was introduced by Harry McCormick with 
the Syracuse Stars of 1876. About this lime Trickey Nichols 
of the New Haven club was pitching a most tantalizing drop 
ball. Later Rhines came along with a raise ball, copied later 
still by McGinnity. Mathews, Rhines and McGinnity are the only 
men ever known to get the proper effect on this style of de- 
livery. A fast ball with a jump was claimed by several pitchers, 
but worked by Charley Nichols, while with Boston, to better 
advantage than ever before. 

Charley Sweeney introduced the incurve, or fade away ball, 
while with Providence in 1884. The drop curve was effectively 
used by William Dineen and others within the last few years. 

A pitcher might have all the curves and the speed and yet 
be a poor workman unless he had control and used head work 
in feeding the batsman. 

The following advice by well-known pitchers is well worth 
considering : 

Mathewson : "No pitcher with a good assortment of curves 
should be required to play in more than two games a week. A 
great amount of tissue is broken down in the arm that does 
the work during the course of a game, and it takes a lot of time 
to rebuild it." 

Orth : ''A pitcher should always keep on the lookout for a 
batter's weakness, for some fellows can kill one ball and are 
easy meat for another. The ones hardest to pitch to are those 
that hug the plate close and chop at a ball instead of swinging. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 27 

These fellows that stand back and swing hard are no trouble for 
a pitcher who keeps his eyes open to what is going on." 

Phillippe: "Learn the weaknesses of opposing batsmen and 
pitch accordingly. The successful pitcher knows exactly what 
the men who face him can not hit, and either pitches those balls 
to them or else tempts them with the kind they like, but keeps 
the latter so far from the plate that they cannot hit them safely, 
if at all." 

Orth : "I early recognized the fact that if I desired to remain 
in the game I would have to resort to something different from 
throwing curves all the time. I soon found out that if I had the 
ability to send the balls where I wanted to and could acquire 
the ability to mix the balls up, that I would make the needed 
progress in acquiring the art of effectiveness, and command has 
always been my long suit from that time. 'Aim to put them 
where you want to.' That is my advice to young pitchers. Study 
your batsman. Do not make the mistake of trying to fool bats- 
men who will not hit unless you put them over. You just waste 
your strength on such. These men are good waiters and will 
just play for a base on balls from a wild pitcher. The range a 
pitcher has is considerable after all. He can put the balls high 
or low, in or out, as suits his fancy, working the corners ac- 
cording to the batsman." 

Phillippe : "The pitcher must have strength and endurance far 
beyond what is required of the other players. I think it a fair 
inference that the larger man is more likely to have the advan- 
tage in this respect. It is true there have been many notable 
lightweight pitchers, but how long did they last? Can the records 
of 'Bobby' Mathews or 'Brownie' Foreman be compared with that 
of 'Cy' Young? As a matter of fact, Mathews, the most famous 
lightweight pitcher in the history of the game, stood only forty- 
five feet from the plate, while the pitcher of to-day must send 
the ball sixty feet. I venture the assertion that if Mathews were 
at his best to-day he would not last a week in any league. The 
work has become too hard for the lightweight, and I would not 
advise any young player, whose size places him in this class, to 
waste his time trying to become a pitcher. He may succeed for 
a time, but he cannot last well enough to take his regular turn in 
fast company." 

There is so much good sense in the above advice by Phillippe 
that I want to put him right. When Mathews was at his best the 
pitching distance was 50 feet and not 45, as stated by the Pitts- 
burg man, who probably never saw Mathews pitch a Base Ball. 
Mathews had a peculiar knack of pitching that made it easy 
for him to pitch every day. He had mystifying curves, fine speed 
and a change of pace. Then, working each man for the limit, 




HOW BALL IS GRASPED FOR START OF THE "FADEAWAY. 




THE BALL LEAVING THE HAND AS IT GETS THE FINAL TWIST 
OF THE WRIST FOR THE "FADEAWAY." 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 29 

l\lathe\vs would have no trouble in holding his own, and was 
superior even to Mr. Phillippe, his critic. 

Mathewson : "For the 'fadeaway,' the ball is held very loosely 
at the tips of the fingers, the first two fingers being above the 
ball and the thumb below it. The arms are thrown high above 
the head, but when the pitching arm begins to start the horse- 
hide on its way the arm is brought out from the side of the 
body and raised to an angle of about 45 degrees. This motion 
is gone through so quickly, however, that it is practically im- 
possible for the batsman to detect the fact that he is going to get 
something very difi^erent from a drop curve. In the drop curve 
the arm descends straight down in front, but in the fade-away 
the motion of the arm from its position at an angle of 45 degrees 
is a small outward swing. When the arm gets in front of the 
pitcher just about on the level with his chin the hand is given 
a sharp twist inward, or to the left, which brings the back of the 
hand on top, and the loosely held ball, which is revolving from 
the rapid action of the arm, slips out sideways or off the second 
finger. At the same time there is a rotary motion given to the 
hand. When the ball leaves the hand the arm is so twisted that 
the palm of the hand faces outward." 

Mathewson is the only pitcher at the present time pitching the 
incurve or "fade-away" ball, as he calls it, although pitchers have 
tried in vain to master this curve for the last twenty years. 
Charley Sweeney, with the Providence club in 1884, struck out 
nineteen of the Boston players in a nine-inning game with this 
same ball. It was so trying on the arm, however, that he had 
to give it up. After the games for the world's championship in 
1905, Mathewson was forced to place his wrist in a plaster cast 
as the result of this style of pitching. Mathewson is a perfect 
build for pitching, with a long reach, long velvet fingers and a 
good head for detail. He has perhaps mastered more curves than 
any other man in the business. It would be a waste of time for 
an ordinary pitcher to try to master the fade-away curve, and it 
will be a long time before we see another Mathewson on the 
ball field. 

Harry Howell : Howell declares that the thumb is the con- 
trolling element in the "spit" ball. "Wetting the ball where the 
two first fingers rest on it has the eiTect of making the ball leave 
the fingers first and the thumb last," says Howell. "You know, 
when you pick up a ball to throw it 3'ou usually grasp it firmly 
with the two first fingers and thumb. If the ball is dry it 
naturally leaves the thumb first and the fingers last. But when 
you wet the ball in one spot it has a tendency to deflect the 
course, and the ball leaves the fingers first, passing over the 
thumb last. This is the whole mystery of the 'spit' ball The 




MATHEWSON (NEW YORK NATIONALS) PREPARING FOR 

A SPEEDY INSHOOT OR A "FADE AWAY." HE USES THE 

SAME MOTION FOR BOTH. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 31 

fingers have nothing to do with the curve. It is the thumb that 
acts as the propeller. I constantly use slippery elm to increase 
the flow of saliva, thus making it easy to throw the 'spit' ball." 

This is how Mathewson gets the drop curve ball. 'To deliver 
this ball the arms must be thrown high above the head," he 
says. "As the pitching arm rapidly descends straight forward 
the arm is turned slightly outward, and when the arm is hori- 
, zontal the hand is turned slightly outward and the snap, a hard 
one, is given by the wrist, and the greater the snap the faster 
will be the curve. 

"In holding the ball the first two fingers are above it and the 
thumb below. The ball is held rather loosely. When the twist 
or snap of the wrist takes place at the moment of delivery the 
hand turns so that the thumb is on top of the ball and the first 
two fingers below it. A full arm swing is used. The body 
is bent far forward so that all the weight of the body is behind 
the ball, and as the arm descends with a mighty swing the 
w^eight of the body is shifted from right foot to the left. Under 
no circumstances use moisture when delivering this great puzzler 
to batsmen. On leaving the hand the ball travels in a straight 
line until just before it reaches the plate, when it breaks sharply 
downward in front of the batter. 

"As can be well guessed such a ball is a great strain on the 
muscles of the arm when delivered with all the power a pitcher 
possesses. Like all curves the ball can be used at varying speeds. 
When men are not on bases it is a fine ball to pitch if it is de- 
sired to make the batter send out a grounder that can be easily 
fielded. In fact, any curve can be used fast or slow with this 
purpose in view. 

"By not bringing the ball quite so high above the shoulder 
when starting to make the throw an outdrop can be attained. I 
seldom consider it necessary, however, to try the outdrop. It 
has less space in which to be called a fair ball when passing 
over the plate, and is therefore more risky. The regular drop 
curve has all the space between the batter's shoulders and knees 
to make the batter score a strike, while the outcurve has but 
the width of the plate." 

Frank Donahue says: "To get the outcurve, hold the ball 
tightly between the two first fingers and thumb, and swing the 
arm well out, snapping the wrist to make the ball spin as much 
as possible while turning the palm down." 

Vic Willis says: "The drop ball is the most trying one on the 
arm. I hold the ball between the two first fingers and thumb, 
and start the ball from as high a position as I can get, letting the 
ball slip off the index finger, while turning the palm of the hand 
down. By a double motion or snap of the elbow and vvrist, I get 
the combination of drop and curve together." 




MORDECAI BROWN THP VM^irr^rrc .. 

P.TCHB. OP?/. ™°"/o ^IZSr^"^- 



SPALt)INGS ATHLETIC LIBRART. 33 

William Dineen says: ''The drop outcurve I find the most 
effective ball against right-handed batsmen ; I hold the ball the 
same for every ball I pitch, but allow the drop ball to leave from 
the top of the second finger after bringing the hand down from 
the highest position I can get in a long swing and, by an extra 
move to effect the curve, get the drop curve, which I think is the 
most trying ball a pitcher can deliver. The drop, itself, is not so 
difficult, but the combination of drop curve requires a long reach 
and the gift of being competent to work all the curves and 
shoots." 

Cy Young says: "The jump ball can be produced only by great 
speed. The ball is thrown with a full arm swing right from the 
.shoulder, and out from under the fingers, which are straightened 
out as the ball leaves for the bat. The idea is to get a jump on 
the ball just as it comes to the plate, nearly shoulder high." 

Jack Chesbro says: "The spit ball is worked entirely by the 
thumb. The saliva one puts on the ball does not affect its course 
in any way, but is put on the ball for the sole purpose of making 
the fingers slip off the ball first. E.xcepting the spit ball, every 
ball that goes from the pitcher leaves the fingers last. In throw- 
ing curves the fingers do the work. By wetting the ball it leaves 
the fingers first, and the thumb last, and the spit ball could be 
rightly called a thumb ball. It is not necessary to thoroughly wet 
the ball. All you need to do is to moisten it so as to remove 
the friction from the part of the ball the fingers cover, and 
which slides off the fingers." 

Plank, of the Athletics, says : "I study the batsman in every 
way; his position in the box, his general attitude, the way he 
holds his bat and any other individual characteristic he may have. 
These help the experienced pitcher to get a line on what may 
be the best ball to use. If he knows the batsman well, that may 
be of some use, but not necessarily so. A young pitcher entering 
a new league cannot know the batsmen like an old-timer, yet he 
must make good from the start to hold his position. He must 
depend entirely on what he can learn on the instant from the 
batters as they take their places in turn before him and the ability 
he has to make use of this information. A good catcher is a 
big help. He is right at the plate and can see the batsman better 
than the pitcher, and ought to know just what ball is likely to 
be most effective. I generally give my catcher the kind of ball 
he signs for, but use my own judgment as to how high or how 
near the batter to put it. I try to some extent to work corners — 
that is, to get the ball over, but keep away from the center of 
the plate — but when the batter is badly puzzled, or 'faded,' as we 
say, it is almost perfectly safe to put it anywhere so it goes 
over." 





ROGER BRESNAHAN, 

Manager of the St. Louis Nationals, whose work behind the bat 

was a big feature in New York's success. Note his shin guards 

which he was the first to introduce into base ball. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRAUY. 



THE CATCHING DEPARTMENT 

Catchers should have a fine reach ard be quick, accurate 
throwers from most any position they may happen to be when the 
ball is received. 

Without first-class catching no team has a chance these days, 
for base-running will win over batting and a weak catcher will 
make easy base-stealing. 

Catchers should have nerve ; be ever cool and heady ; sign for 
the pitched balls and coach the infield and outfield. 

The catcher must be alive to every play on the board and is 
usually the central figure. 

The big mitt has made possible enough catchers to go round 
as natural catchers are few and far apart. Nearly all must work 
v/ith signs and have the ball handed when the base-runner is 
about to take a chance for second. 

Catchers should have signs with both first and third bases and 
often snap the ball to those points when the men are taking 
ground freely. Lou Criger of the Boston Americans has some- 
thing on any catcher that ever stood behind the plate and is al- 
ways in a position to throw, no matter what way he gets the 
ball. He catches season after season without ever meeting a 
serious accident and never complains of a lame arm. He is the 
living model to-day for all catchers. 

The advice he gives is worth reading : 

"A catcher wdio cannot throw swiftly and accurately to the 
bases is of little use to a team. He is called upon mostly to 
throw to second base, and it is this point of the diamond that 
he should cultivate his eye for distance and arm for the throw. 

"One of the most spectacular features of a game is the attempt 
of a base-runner to pilfer second base, and then the catcher has 
his work cut out for him in earnest, and the outcome of his 
effort to shut off the runner is awaited with expectation. 

"The catcher should have an understanding with his pitcher on 
what to expect when a runner reaches first base. If the base- 
runner is known for his stealing propensities and is likely to go 
down the catcher should signal for a wide ball that the batter will 
not try to reach. There must be no preliminary motions in the 
catcher's movements in his act of getting the ball away. It 
should be one continuous action from the instant the ball leaves 
the pitcher's hand. The throwing arm goes back with the ball 




r.;lli^ 



1. 

the I 111 
I'ccord 

season. 



il.iiii-. tho yoinig Pittsburg pitcher whose work against 
v;is sii |ihcii(i:iipiial; 2, Catcher Gibson of Pittsburg, whose 
■ccssive games was a feature of the National League 

Van Oeyen, Photo. 
TWO OF THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONS. 



SPALDINGS ATHLETIC LIUUARY. ' 37 

and is hurled to the base without a hitch. The throw ought to 
be low and close to the base so that the second-baseman can put 
the ball on the runner without the least trouble. 

"To get runners ofif third and first base the catcher should use 
a snap throw in which the wrist develops its greatest power, as 
the play must be done with all the deception possible. It is a 
dangerous habit to throw to the bases indiscriminately and 
should be avoided as much as possible. Only the surest throwers 
should take chances to catch runners off the bases spoken of, 
as a mispiay would result disastrously. 

"Oftentimes a pitcher's effectiveness is due to the good support 
that lie receives from his catcher, \\ho can by his ease and poise 
behind the plate influence the temperament of his boxman. 

"A catcher should make the reception of the ball look easy and 
not fight it, making unnecessary hard work for himself and put- 
ting any distress on his pitcher. 

"Young pitchers can be jollied along by an experienced catcher 
and the symptoms of stage fright made void by the proper treat- 
ment. 

"A catcher can't be awkward and cover his position satisfac- 
torily, as he has much to perform in his territory which must 
be accepted at quick notice. In going after foul flies back of the 
plate he must get the direction of the ball as if by intuition and 
turn simultaneously, ridding himself of his mask, and be able to 
take the ball at any angle.'' 




FRANK L. CHANCE. 



Sl'ALUINGS ATHLETIC LIDllAlll'. 



THE INFIELD OF A BALL TEAM 

A tall, acfive man should be selected for first base, and while 
sonle rather medium-sized players have played a clever first base 
yet a man less than six feet in height is handicapped for want of 
reach in going after wide throws. 

On ground balls the smaller man is better, and for second base 
a player should be under five feet ten, about five feet seven 
being the ideal height for a second baseman. 

The shortstop should also be a medumi-sized player, not _over 
five feet ten at the most, while the third baseman should be 
perhaps from five feet nine up. The running plays at short and 
second base require great speed in action from all angles, and 
none but a small man has a chance to change positions while 
under full speed, although Lajoie and Wagner, two phenomenal 
players, are exceptions to the rule. 

The first-baseman must be able to field a ball as well as the 
other positions in the infield and must play the ball on the run. 
He should run in for every slow ball that comes into the left 
of the pitcher, while the pitcher covers first base. The first- 
baseman has a better chance toyliandle the ball as he is coming 
in, while the pitcher would be handicapped by trying to take the 
ball as he bent down running sideways. 

The first-baseman should go to his right for every ball that he 
can handle either to second or to first base. In all such cases 
the pitcher or second-baseman should cover first base and the 
.shortstop go to second base. 

The catching of a thrown ball is about the simplest work a 
first-baseman has to perform these days. 

Short, snappy underhand throwing is the proper thing for a 
player covering first base and continual getting rid of the ball 
after a catch will improve the speed of a player's work when the 
time comes for real action. 

A second-baseman should be able to throw both over and 
under-handed, as well as toss the ball both forward and back- 
handed, especially to second base, on a force play ; in fact, many 
plays have been made by scooping the ball on the dead run and 
landing it in the proper place. 

Shortstop is simply second base over again, as short must take 
throws and often play well into the third-baseman's territory 
for left-handed hitters, and in deep field for place hitters, so 




■^^ 



i^ 



NAPOLEON LA/OIE. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIDKARY. 41 

that the shortstop and second-basemen must work together Hke 
a machine. I beheve the shortstop has the most difficuU position 
to fill to-day on a ball field, as he not only has to cover second 
base and back up third, but he has the longest throws to make. 

The third-baseman should play on the base line for all bats- 
men, keeping an eye out for the hunter and must call the turn 
as the batsman gets in shape to meet the ball. Fie must play 
nine-tenths of the bunt hits on the run with one hand, and 
throw accurately to first. A 'third-baseman should go for the 
ground balls hit to his left, regardless of the shortstop, playing 
the wide ones mostly with the left-hand and changing for the 
throw to first. 

Throwing to second for a force-out requires quick thought and 
accuracy, as the ball must be given tc? the man covering the bag 
in such a way that he can swing and shoot it to first for a double 
play. It is not necessary to throw hard, but the ball should be on 
the way the instant it is picked up, with the knowledge that the 
base will be covered for the play. 

With a man at second figuring on a steal of third the short- 
stop should play rather close to the base and hold his man. 
This he must also do with a third-baseman looking for a bunt. 
A slow man at second will handicap the man who is trying to 
sacrifice, as the second-baseman will hold his man close to the 
bag, with the idea of having the ball fielded to third base for a 
force-out. With a clever catcher the basemen can often get men 
off the bases at important stages of the game. 

While clever basemen cannot be caught by trap work, two- 
thirds of the men who play ball are slow thinkers and need con- 
stant coaching to keep out of the pitfalls planned for their 
benefit. 

The double throw, with men at first and third, has been worked 
for a dozen or more years and is a lost art to most teams. Prac- 
tice will overcome trouble in this line of work. 
•^ Judgment should be exercised in playing close up for the man 
at the plate. It often pays to let one man go and cut off what 
might develop into a bunch of runs for your opponent. For 
example, with the score two to nothing and the game well over 
it would be the proper play to let the run score and play for the 
batsman. There are times, too, when a double play would be the 
thing, and with a slow runner at the bat would be a fair chance 
to take (for you must take long chances at times) and it is 
simply a case of calling the turn, and calling it right from long 
experience and a knowledge of the men you are playing against. 

The following advice by well-known professionals is well worth 
repeating, and the poorest player can often add a wise sug- 
gestion : 




LARRY DOYLE, 
The sensational young second baseman of the " Giants." 



SrALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. tS 

"Excepting the pitcher and the catcher, no player on the field 
handles the ball so often in a game as the second-baseman. In 
only a small proportion of the number of times he gets the ball 
are there opportunities for making a put-out or an assist, but 
there is always a chance to make a costly error. He must, 
therefore, never relax his vigilance or lose his grip of the situa- 
tion. He must work in perfect harmony with the other men in 
the infield, and especially with the shortstop. To do this, he 
must make an intelligent study of his fellow-players and be thor- 
oughly familiar with their capabilities and their peculiarities. 
When a fast play is started there is no time for explanations 
either by word or sign, and every man who takes part in it must 
know as well what the others will do as what he will do him- 
self, and be governed accordingly. The number of possible plays 
on the ball field is not extraordinarily large, but the number of 
ways of making them is almost infinite. 

"It follows, then, that the second-baseman must at least be 
as fast on his feet and as quick a player as any other player. 
Besides having a knowledge of his fellow-players, he must be 
acquainted with his opponents so as to resort to the style of play 
most successful against them. Tricks which will work against 
one team fall flat when tried on another, and the way in which 
any play should be made must be decided by the circumstances 
of the moment. 

"Suppose, for example, there is a man on third and the ball is 
hit to me, but in such a way that I am obliged to run for it, 
either forward or sideways. H two men are not out, I should 
try, the ball being a ground hit, to catch the man at the plate, 
if there is a possible chance. Suppose, also, that the man who 
hit the ball is very fast, I must watch the ball, so as to be sure 
to get it. and, as I camiot watch the runners too, must make up 
my mind before I get it where I will throw it. To do the right 
thing, I must know how fast the runner at third is and how much 
of a lead he had when the ball was hit. I must consider how 
long it will take to get the ball to the catcher and how skillful 
the latter is in blocking off base-runners in a pinch. The stand- 
ing of the score and the time must be weighed, li the scoring 
of a run by the opposition insures their winning the game, the 
play at the plate is the only one worth trying, whether there 
appears to be a chance of success or not. But if the game is 
young and I was sure the man at third would score, I would not 
hesitate to make sure of the man at first. The shortstop must 
back up third base like the second-baseman backs up first, play 
short left and middle field, and sometimes go out into foul ground 
for flies that neither the third-baseman nor the left fielder can 
get under. He must guard second base when that duty falls to 




HANS WAGNER, 
Pittsburg's famous shortstop, after making a throw to first. 
Besides his marvelous batting, Wagner is one of the best ground 
eoverers in base ball and makes many sensational stops and catches. 



f^rALniNG'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 45 

him, help the pitcher to keep base-runners hugging the sack and 
watch the returns of the ball from the catcher to the pitcher. 
He must make the same close study of opposing batsmen and the 
base-runners that other players must make, and be guided by 
what he can learn. He cannot pick out a level spot and stand 
there all afternoon expecting the ball to come to him. Like the 
business man who wants trade, he must get out after it and 
change his position for every man who comes to bat. 

"While there is nothing certain about anything in -Base Ball, 
random infield work is as bad as random pitching. The infielder 
should never make a move that does not mean something and 
represent a definite end. He should adopt the course dictated by 
his best judgment and then follow it out vmtil there is a reason 
for making a change. He will not always be successful, but he 
must not be discouraged if the unexpected happens. 

"One of the problems for the third-baseman is the batter who 
can both lay the ball down and line it out. If he plays back too 
far the latter will invariably bunt. If he gets too far in, he is 
likely to have to face a hard drive, which will sorely test his 
courage first, and probably his endurance afterward. In the 
course of a season every third-baseman makes a number of fine 
stops which would not have been made if he could have gotten 
his bod}' out of the way in time. The best plan to pursue in 
such cases, in my opinion, is to take a middle course. Keep 
back close to the line running from second to third and six or 
eight feet from the foul line, the latter depending to some ex- 
tent both on the batter and the pitcher. Then, every time the 
pitcher delivers the ball, get on your tiptoes and be prepared to 
move instantly in any direction. Keep your eye on the batter, and 
if he is going to bunt you can discover his intention in time to 
be half way in to the plate, if you are fast on your feet, before 
the ball leaves his bat. If, on the other hand, you see he is about 
to swing hard on the ball, you can summon your powers of resist- 
ing the shock of a speedy drive. 

"AH this sounds, perhaps, as if third base were the only posi- 
tion in the field and that all balls are knocked to the third-base- 
man. That is exactly my idea of how every player should feel 
during the game. He should always be expecting the ball to 
hit him, always be ready to receive it, and always have his mind 
made up as to what he will do with it when it does come. 

"Besides the foregoing, the third-baseman must be able to line 
the ball across the field swiftly and accurately. With the fast 
men of to-day 'arching' the ball over won't do. It must go on 
a line, and no time can be wasted in starting it. Like the first- 
baseman, the third-baseman has a large number of foul flies to 
look after, and to get them, as he should, fleetness of foot is 




ARTHUR DEVLIN, 

Third baseman for the New York Nationals. He is very fast and 

covers a great deal of ground. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARV. 4? 

indispensable. He must also know what to do with the ball 
after it is caught, and not let base-runners take advantage of 
such plays to advance. He should back up other positions when- 
ever possible and never overlook an opportunity to do anything 
that will benefit his team. 

"Two faults many young infielders (and sonic old ones, too) 
have are trying to throw the ball before they get it and losing 
their heads after making an error. The first is due to nervous 
ness or over-anxiety, and requires constant effort and perhaps 
some coaching to overcome. Whatever effort is needed, this 
must be done, for nothing so interferes with heady, successful 
work as nervousness. As to errors, they are inseparable from 
infield work. If the field were a floor, the bound of every ground 
ball could be determined exactly and the play be made with 
machine-like precision. As it is, a pebble, a tuft of grass or an 
inequality in the ground deflects the ball just when you are set 
for it, and it comes just where you were not expecting it and 
don't want it. You do j'our best to get it and often succeed, only 
to make a bad throw, because you are thrown out of position 
by the extra effort and the time is too short to take a brace before 
throwing. At other times^ you either miss the ball altogether or 
are unable to move your hand fast enough to do more than 
knock it down, and, as a result, get an error for what appeared 
to all but youfself an easy chance. The infielder must never 
let such things affect him. He must forget them at soon as they 
are past and go on as if nothing had happened. Go after every- 
thing, no matter how impossible it seems to you as well as every- 
body else. Once in a while it will take a Lucky bound into your 
hand, and if you don't let your surprise prevent you from taking 
advantage of the circumstances, you will probably be hailed as 
'the greatest ever' — until you make your next error. 

"Neither the manager nor the captain can win unless they have 
the co-operation of the players. To be successful the captain's 
efforts must at all times be reinforced and backed up by a good 
bunch of hustlers. He must infuse into his men, if they do not 
have it naturally, enthusiasm for their work and a do-or-die 
.spirit. Lots of good players are naturally very quiet. They know 
what to do themselves, but cannot direct others not so well 
posted. Such men must be encouraged and advantage taken of 
their special abilities. The captain must welcome their aid and 
show that he appreciates it." 




HUGH A. JENNINGS. 

The Detroits' manager, uttering his famous "E-yah," on the coaching line. 

In explanation of the origin of the term "E-yah," which caused so much 
comment in ly07, Manager Jennings said: "I used to say, 'That's the way!' 
Then I found that it was too dull and tiresome. I warned something with 
snap and go to it. So changed it to 'That's the way— ail!' From tliis I 
changed it to just 'the way— ah.' Finally 1 found I was just yelling 'E-yah.' " 



SPALUINU'S ATHLETIC LIERARY. 



PLAYING THE OUTFIELD 

No weak batsman should l;o worked in the outfield. More 

than one-half of the outfielders in the big leagues arc left-hand 

hitters, while over two-thirds of the men are right-hand throwers. 

1 would play the speediest man in center field and the slowest 

runner in left field. . , • , 

Fielders should work with signs and know just what the pitcher 
is to give the batsman, as this will enable him to be on the move 
in the right direction and often make catches that seemed im- 
possible when the ball was hit. 

Outfielders should never hold the ball a second, but cut it for 
the infield at once and give no chance to the base-runner to take 
advantage of slow work. , ,, . 

Outfielders should practice taking the ball in a position to 
throw, and learn how to take a ball after a long run and turn. 

Outfielders should study the different batsmen closely. They 
should have an understanding with the infielders, as well as the 
players in the outfield, Once a player sings out 'T have it,' he 
should pay no attention to the other players, who should simply 
back up the man who first called out. 

The right fielder gets more flies out of his position and more 
fouls than does the left fielder. 

The right fielder must be ready to back up second base when- 
ever possible, and he must be ready to back up first base every 
time a throw is made to that sack from any of the infielders or 
from the catcher. • , , ■ , 

There is a great chance for the young man with the quick- 
throwing to make a reputation for himself in right field. Many 
opportunities come to the right fielder to make unusual throws. 
I have seen many a fast base-runner thrown out at first base 
on what looked like a hit to the right field. 

That was accomplished because the right fielder was alert and 
ready to dash in to meet the ground ball ps close to the base 
lines as possible. 

The right fielder must be sure on ground balls. If there is any 
chance at all to get the runner at first after he makes what looks 
to be a hit the outfielder should be able to improve every oppor- 
tunity. 1 r <- 1 t 

The right fielder, like the center fielder and the 'eft fielder, 
should be an excellent judge of all batters. After seeing a man 




WILLIE KEELER, 
New York Americans' famous right fielder. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 61 

bat once he should know whether he is likely to hit in his di- 
rection. 

The right fielder should also be ready for every batter who 
comes to the plate. There is no way to tell when a man who 
nearly always hits toward the left is going to tear one toward the 
right field. 

The center fielder and the right fielder should have a signal 
fixed with the second baseman so that individual may be able 
to tell which one of the players is to take a fly that falls between 
them. Collisions may thus be avoided. 

When the second-baseman calls out the name of the outfielder 
who is to take the fly the other should stop on the instant and 
not insist upon taking it anyway. 

Only experience can tell the right fielder which way this or 
that batter is going to hit. This experience may be gained by 
himself in a few games, for he should always know where each 
batter usually hits. 

The right fielder should never go into a game without prac- 
ticing in his position. This is so he may become familiar with the 
grounds and with the direction and velocity of the wind. The 
wind is an important factor in all outfield playing. Unless the 
outfielder knows how it is blowing he is likely to be fooled badly 
the first time some batter knocks a fly toward him. 

Quick starting has much to do with success in getting to where 
the ball is. In order to be able to start quickly the outfielder 
must have a judgment so keen that it will tell him almost the 
square inch where the ball will fall. 

In playing the outfield, if Harry Bay, Keeler or Flick hap- 
pened to be on second base and a base hit was made to me and 
I fumbled the ball, there would be no use throwing to the plate to 
shut them off^, unless the pitcher or catcher should be wise enough 
to intercept the throw to catch the batsman should he try to go 
down to second on the throw in. With a slow runner on second, 
should you fumble the ball in the outfield, the chances are you 
could get your man at the plate on a good throw, but the main 
thing is to have the play figured out before you make it, then 
you can't go wrong. 




THE TWO CHAMPION BATTERS OP THEIR RESPECTIVE 

LEAGUES, TY COBB AND HANS WAGNER, SHAKING 

HANDS AT THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 53 



THE FINE ART OF BATTING 

Batting is tiie one department of Base Ball where a boy or 
man must have a natural talent to make good. 

I have known of cases where a very ordinary batsman finished 
a season with a top-notch batting average, but the same player 
was sure to fall off the next season. 

The old saying that batsmen are born and not made comes very 
near being correct, although any player can improve by faithful 
practice and mtelligent thought on the subject. 

Each player will have his own style at the plate, finding it 
easy to fall into some style unconsciously. He should be allowed 
to continue in this style unless there should be a semblance of 
pulling away from the plate, for only the aggressive batsman 
reach the top of his profession. 

It is a rare thing nowadays to see any man outside the battery 
players pull away from the plate. Once a pitcher notes this 
weakness he has his man at all times if he is careful. 

The preliminary swing of the pitcher is often likely to bother 
the timid batsman, for he will often lose track of the ball. The 
batsman should pay little attention to the pitcher until about the 
last move before sending the ball to the plate, when being ever- 
ready and in a natural position he can follow the course of the 
ball. 

I fully believe that all men can bat to better advantage while 
gripping the bat up short. 

All pitchers try to get a line on the batsman by noting their 
footwork and general attitude at the plate. 

"Cy" Seymour says : '"Know your pitchers and keep close tab 
on the position of the fielders. I ascribe a large portion of my 
showing to the hit-and-run game. 

"I would give the runner on first base his signal for a steal 
and then aim to hit the ball through the shortstop's or second- 
baseman's position, according as the one or the other left it 
open to cover the bag and catch the runnCi. 

"For that very reason I rarely or never seek to run forward 
past the plate and meet the ball before the curve breaks. By 
playing as far back of the plate as possible I get that much more 
time to be sure which infielder is going to cover second base. 
A large proportion of my base hits were made in this way . 




TY COBB, 

Detroit's famous batter, whose stick work is one of the features 

of the American League. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 55 

"Then, again, I am not particular about using any special bat. 
For a pitcher who serves slow ones and uses his head I use 
a lighter bat, but when a pitcher relies mainly on speed I find a 
heavy bat more serviceable. 

"I don't grasp the bat at the end, because I find I can control 
it better and meet the ball more accurately by holding the bat 
a few inches from the end. Being able to place the ball in the 
various outfields helps a whole lot, for the fielders then are 
puzzled where to lay for you. And yet some good hitters, like 
Roy Thomas, almost always hit to the same field. 

"It's a mistake to try and slam the ball all your might. Hit it 
a good, solid lick, but you can do better inside work if you dgn't 
try to rip the cover off every time you swing at it." 

Seymour, like most batsmen, can be helped out by a good man 
ahead of them on the batting list, as a clever base-runner will 
keep the pitcher guessing and also keep the basemen on the 
alert, thereby creating more openings for safe hits through the 
infield. 

Slugging is of very little account under the advice of Mr. 
Seymour. 

I consider Clarence Beaumont one of the most scientific bats- 
men in the profession. Read what he says about getting out 
of form: 

"Good batters are often asked why it is that they occasionally 
have slumps during which they go for days without hitting 
safely. All of them meet with this experience at times. In my 
own case, which I suppose is largely the same with other players, 
the trouble comes from what we call getting out of stride. In 
hitting the ball, all good batters take a step forward. This 
step is called the stride. My stride is about eighteen inches. 
Suppose I unconsciously increase this stride to two feet. This 
looks like a small matter, but m reality the additional six inches 
causes me to lower my bat a trifle, with the result that I hit 
under the center of the ball, which sends it up in the air instead 
of out on a line as I intend. The eye has nothing to do with this. 
It is simply a habit which comes on the player before he is 
aware that he has contracted it. The remedy lies not in trying 
to accustom yourself to the new stride, for that you probably 
could never do successfully, but in getting back your old step. 
Constant practice is the only means of doing this, and it has 
sometimes taken me three weeks to overcome the trouble." 

Beaumont might go farther and say a batsman will often lose 
his best preliminary swing and come to the ball out of form to 
see it soar into the air when he has aimed at the dead center. 

Som.e good batsmen never take any preliminary swing, depend- 
ing wholly on footwork, while a number of batsmen take the 




1, FrfJ Clarke, Munager; li, Hans WagntT. 

Vau Oeyen, Photo. 

TWO OF THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONS. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 57 

bat at the extreme end and take a long swing, usually cutting a 
triangle before swinging for the coming-in ball. Nothing is 
more graceful, but the timing of the swing must be absolutely 
perfect to win out, and a clever pitcher will be quick to see his 
advantage. 

Don't be afraid of the pitcher. It is easy to avoid being hit 
by a fast one and slow ones never injure any one. 

Men have been hit by pitched balls as the result of the pitcher 
sending in just the ball not expected after the batsman had 
figured that he was posted. A good bit of advice from a leading 
player is worth quoting. He says : 

"To the young player I would say : 'Don't get in the habit of 
planting your feet on the ground and not moving them until you 
have swung at the ball. Get a stride and advance a little toward 
the ball as you hit. Do not step too far and accustom your eyes 
and hands to the change such a step makes. Learn to hit squarely 
every ball that passes over any part of the plate between the 
knee and shoulder, and devote the most practice to what you 
are weakest on. Learn to think and act quickly and to keep your 
head at all times. In a contest, do not always do the same 
thing under the same circumstances. Give your opponent a sur- 
prise whenever possible." 

The above advice is well worth considering by the old player 
as well as the youngster. Step up and meet the ball ; it puts the 
pitcher on the defence and makes the other players feel they have 
a game player to handle, and nerve is half the battle in Base Ball. 

Always go to the plate to hit that ball in the center, no matter 
who the pitcher may be, for all can be found, as they must get the 
ball over that rubber 17 inches wide. 

Another good "sticker" says : 

"If I were facing a pitcher who depended mainly on speed, 
I would stand at the back of the batter's box, so as to have the 
advantage of the additional distance. I would do this, particu- 
larly if I wished to hit toward third base. But if the same pitcher 
had a good drop ball I would stand at the front of the box so as 
to be able to catch the ball before the break. If the batter has 
a weakness and the pitcher is taking advantage of it, the former 
must use his judgment and cunning." 

The above is intended for left-hand batsmen and is sound and 
well worth heeding. 

Practice and confidence will make a batsman, and he must 
practice continually to do his best work, and practice against 
good pitching. Therefore, Practice' Practice ! ! PRACTICE ! ! ! 
until you know your own speed, and then keep on practicing with 
the stick. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 59 



THE ART OF BASE-RUNNING 

Head work counts just as much as fleetness of foot after a 
player reaches first base, and nothing will bother a pitcher any 
more than to know a clever man is ever ready to make a break 
for an extra base. It bothers the boxman much more than the 
man at bat, and for this reason pitchers usually pitch their poorest 
games against a lot of fine base-runners. 

Once a player reaches first base it should be his aim to keep 
the battery guessing as to what move he intends to make. Tak- 
ing a lead off first should be the study of every ball player, and 
no man can expect to bother the pitcher or ever steal a base if 
he has failed to improve his many opportunities to take the proper 
lead off the three bases, for the lead means everything on the 
bases, as a start means success in making a play in the field. 
Every man that reached first base should be taught the funda- 
mental principles of base-running, including sliding to bases, as 
well as reaching the base from several feet away. Players allow 
the particular men who make a specialty of this department to 
have it all their own way, when every man should make the try. 

It should be a part of the early spring work, for there is 
nothing more disagreeable to clever ball players than to see some 
of their own men "wedded to the bags," as they say, or failing 
to take the proper ground off the bases, when runs are valuable 
and the opposition is primed to take advantage of a dead one 
on the bases. 

Players should practice starts from first in the spring and 
at other times when the opportunity affords. There is no danger 
of being caught while the pitcher stands with the ball in his 
left hand when pitching with his right. A running lead and 
quick return under these conditions will bother the players and 
in the general mixup the runner is more apt to call the turn and 
get the proper lead for second. Even if the runner never intends 
to go, he keeps his opponent's attention off the man at the bat 
and the runner has the advantage of changing to a hit-and-run 
game. 

The base-runner should have a perfect code, of signals with 
the next batsman to know just when to tip off, and what action 
to take when the ball is pitched. Certainly the battery will keep 
up a deep thinking part and will often call the turn, but "that is 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. gj 

in the game, and the quickest thinker and best executer will land 
the money in the long run. 

Any ball player should know how to make the different slides. 
The feet-first slide leaves a runner in a position to regain his 
feet and be off for the next base if the ball is thrown wide, but 
the most difficult slide to block off is the wide head-first slide 
where the player reaches back and finds the base. 

Taking two bases on a ground ball to right or center field 
should be accomplished three out of four times if the runner 
is on the alert against nine-tenths of the outfielders. 

Don't watch the ball, and pay no attention to anything but the 
base. Don't turn your head to look either sideways or behind, 
as it is bound to result in loss of speed ; and he shouldn't slide 
unless his pants are properly padded. 

When you have got away you must judge the man on the sack, 
know how he stands and which way he turns. There is a way of 
twisting the body when you are going into the bag that brings 
you in feet first. Many times the man with the ball is there as 
soon as you are, but when he is ready to tag you, that twist will 
get a man out of danger. Some men have a habit of sliding 
to base head first, and some go in with their feet ahead of their 
body, but the way a man can duck and dodge, the twist I spoke 
of will save a speedy runner. Speed, judgment and ability to 
duck — these are the qualities that go to make up a successful 
base-stealer. 

Let a good base-runner get to first base at a critical juncture, 
and if the previous proceedings have been dull and lifeless, action 
is at once instilled into the game. The pitcher becomes anxious. 
A good base-runner will bother him and handicap him in his 
work. The pitcher will often work harder for the man on the 
base than he will for the batter, giving the latter a big advan- 
tage. The catcher knows the slightest slips he may make will 
be taken advantage of, and the infielders know that they will 
have to work fast and sure to foil the runner, and at the same 
time be prepared to handle infield hits. 

All this keys up the spectators to a high pitch, and causes 
them to watch every play with strict attention. The spectacular 
features of base-running have always been recognized. The start, 
a fielder's cry of "There he goes !" the throw, the cloud of dust 
and the close decision combine to make the play one of the mosi 
fascinating of the game. 

Men like Stovey, 'Welsh, Ewing, Latham, Ward, Fogarty and 
Kelly never knew what it was to stand anchored on the initial 
bag and wait for a bunt or a hit-and-run signal. For them 
there was a moment's jockeying along the line, a sharp skirmish 
of wits and quickness, with the pitcher and first baseman, and 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 63 

then a streak of light going down to second, a sHde, a cloud of 
dust, and a frantic yell from the delighted crowd. 

"The big mitt stopped the runners," said Dick Buckley, re- 
cently. How ? Well, get a glove of the type used by catchers 
up to 1889, get a modern padded mitten, have somebody throw 
you a ball and it will all dawn on you in a second. When the 
old pitchers, firing from short distance and yet hurling them 
across with all their steam, sent them into the thin-palmed, 
tinger-tipped glove of those days, the catcher always, and in- 
stinctively, drew back his hands as the bullet struck into the 
frail protection. Suppose a base-runner was under way, the 
catcher disengaged the ball from the glove and shot it down as 
fast as he knew how. After the big mitt arrived, the whole 
method of taking the pitch changed immediately. The catcher 
soon found that he could take the full shock of the fastest de- 
livery in the great paw and that he did not have to draw back 
his hands. What did this mean to the base-runner and to the 
catcher's chance of trapping him ! Only this— that the catcher, 
able to get the ball out of the big glove and ready for the throw 
in speedier time than when he wore the little glove, had just 
that much margin on the runner. And bases are made or lost by 
fractions of a second." 

The player on second should give the runner on first the sign 
that he intends to steal. This will enable the man on first to 
prepare for a double steal. It is practically impossible to make 
a double play in this case, and in the event of the first runner 
being caught at third there will be very little harm done, as the 
second base will still be occupied. 

With one man out it is always good policy to take chances in 
stealing third base, though, as it has already been pointed out, 
before attempting to steal, the player should be certain of a 
good start. He could then score on a long fly to the outfield. 

In a close game, where hitting is light, a player should take 
more than ordinary chances on the bases. A wild throw or a 
dropped ball by a baseman will give the runner the chance he 
may be watching for. No play can be cut and dried on the 
diamond, and the runners must be prepared for any emergency, 
ready to take advantage of any weakness on the part of their 
opponents, and sacrifice individual efforts for team work. 

Connie Mack gives a valuable hint on base-running. Most 
base-runners touch the bags with the right foot. Mack's idea 
is to touch with the left foot, because j'ou can keep the turn 
shorter that way. Mack's theory is the correct one. The distance 
around the bases, actual measurement, is 120 yards, but in mak- 
ing the circuit a runner will cover at least 128 yards. 




1, M;h1(1ox, ::, Lfilield, 'J, riiilliiipr ; 4, Willis; .",, Caimiilz. 

Van Oeyen, Photo. 
A GROUP OF PITCHERS OF THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONS. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIKRARY. 5- 

There is nothing that will discourage one team and please 
another more than dumb base-running. It is far better to hold 
your base until batted around than to run the bases without 
judgment. 

As an example of this I will point to a play that took place 
in one of the games for the world's championship at Chicago in 
1906. Rohe was on third base, with one out, when Do-ugherty 
drove a fierce liner to deep right center that Schulte made a 
clever catch of and threw home in time to get Rohe at the 
plate. Thinking the ball was hit safely, Rohe started for home. 
Seeing that the ball was caught he returned to third, touched 
the base, and again started for home, to be disposed of. When 
he saw the ball hit to the outfield he should have returned with 
all haste to the base and been ready to start for home the in- 
stant the ball hit the fielder's hands. Had the ball been safe 
it was an easy matter to come in. If the ball was muffed it 
was also an easy matter. While if the ball was caught he could 
have beaten the throw home. Therefore, by dumb base- running, 
he lost one run and displayed the weakest kind of Base Ball. 
No brainy ball player could possibly have made this wicked 
i)lunder. 

'I here never was a good excuse offered for running another 
bast-runner down. The base-runner must keep his eyes open, 
and look ahead. Some ordinary runners become expert base- 
nmners by using good judgment, while some of the finest 
sprinters, lacking the temperament, fall easy prey to their oppo- 
nents, especially to clever catchers, and are noted for their dumb 
work on the base paths. 

Base-running is one department of the gatne that has not ad- 
vanced during the last twenty years, and the game is the loser, 
for there is no more picturesque feature than a team of "inside" 
base-runners m action. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. g^ 



THE SQUEEZE PLAY 

This is the most up-to-date play used in Base Ball at the 
present time and a valuable addition to the science of the sport. 

The play is tried only with one out and a man at third base. 
The base-runner starts for home with the first preliminary swing 
of the pitcher's arm and tries for the plate, just as if making 
a steal. The batsman is supposed to meet the ball without 
any attempt for a hard drive, simply keeping the ball on the 
ground. If the ball is placed anywhere in fair territory there 
is no chance to get the runner going home; in fact, run- 
ners often score when the ball is pitched too wide for the bats- 
man to meet it. Then the catcher is apt to drop the ball in his 
hurry. The play is seldom attempted unless the batsman is a good 
hunter. Then, too, it is not a good thing to try the play when 
the pitcher is laying for you, as he will keep the ball high and 
close to the batsman and nip the man coming home. 

In close-score games the play is always favorably considered, 
and it is the unexpected that mystifies your opponent and rattles 
many a player. 

The slowest runner can make the play from third, as it all 
depends on the man at bat to meet the ball and keep it on the 
ground. 

In the number of times that I saw it tried last season, with 
the major league teams it was successful one-half the time, 
which was a percentage in favor of the play. But, like all moves 
in Base Ball, it requires good judgment in picking out the time 
to work the combination. When made, it has a demoralizing 
effect on the team who allowed it, while a failure has the same 
effect on the team to try it. No ball team, however, should be 
vithout the knowledge of the play, as well as a defence when 
others are apt to make the move. 




Attitude of Ruger Bresnahan, manager of the St. Louis National 

League team, as he stands behind the bat. In the upper picture 

Schulte of the Chicago team is at the bat and in the lower one 

Johnny Kling. 



SPALDINGS ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Qg 



THE DELAYED STEAL 

The delayed steal was worked last season as never before, 
until with several teams base-running became one of the most 
important parts of the game, and it required a clever catcher to 
stop it even with sharp, accurate throwing. Ever on the alert, 
the runner would take the limit of ground oflf first. A throw 
to first would see him off for second, where he would beat the 
throw five times out of six. Then, again, the runner would 
hold his ground until the catcher had started the ball back to 
the pitcher, when he would dart for second. As the second- 
baseman and shortstop were playing wide and deep, it was a 
race for the base with the pitcher hesitating as to who would 
take the ball, with the chances all in favor of the runner landing 
safe. This play was also tried — and successfully — with a man 
on third, the runner making home as the ball was thrown to 
second base. The delay in starting was sure to throw off the 
men who were picked to take the ball and while the basemen 
were sizing up the situation the base-runners were making 
ground on either or both ends of the play. 

A wideawake lot of players on the bases, willing to take a 
chance, will defeat a team of sluggers in a season's play. Base- 
running is the purest science of the game and the most pic- 
turesque department. The double steal, the delayed steal, and 
the steal when the hitting is light, is a hard game to beat, and 
especially so if the throwing is not above the average. 

With base-runners for opponents the strongest teams will have 
to keep a sharp lookout, for a fine base-runner is more dreaded 
when he comes to the bat, than the heaviest slugger in the 
business. Base-running has been overlooked by too many Base 
Ball managers of the present time. 



S?i^Bf 



'^yp'lk 





. f^^^' 



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j-^S-«v 




i 



X^ 




f 




JOHN EVERS, 

Midget second baseman of the Chicago Cubs, who gets everything 

that comes his way. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 7I 



THE ART OF THROWING 

A left-hand thrower is handicapped and should never attempt 
to play outside first base and the outfield. 

1 here was a time not long ago when overhand throwing was 
considered the proper style to cultivate. Now a player must be 
fit to throw underhanded, and even toss the ball backhanded, as 
well as to scoop the ball when there is no time for getting into 
a position to make a throw. 

When making a proper throw the hand should follow the ball. 
Snap throwing is a rare accomplishment and must be cultivated, 
while shoulder throwing is a big handicap to a ball player, as 
he is sure to lose time. The Wrist, elbow and shoulder can all be 
used in making the ideal throw. The wrist and elbow properly 
developed will produce the best getaway throw, and should be 
practiced, particularly by outfielders. 

Left-handed throwing outfielders are impossibilities when 
forced to use the shoulder to get the ball away. It is a case of 
"winding up," to see the base-runners beating the throw nine 
out of ten times. 

In the outfield the players should practice continually to get 
the ball away, allowing the infielders to make plays from shorter 
distances. 

A clever man will swing into position to receive a ball before 
making a hard throw. No man can throw hard and accurately 
without taking a step forward before letting the ball go. One 
cf the finest throwers I ever saw was a young player with a 
lame shoulder who developed a wrist throw that was marvelous 
for speed and accuracy. 

Edward Crane, the greatest thrower for long distance the 
game has produced, never used his shoulder, when making a 
throw. In fact, the long distance throwers have never been 
what is known as shoulder throwers. About the only fine 
throwing catchers who used the shoulder have been Charley 
Bennett and Lou Criger, while the great catchers, Kling, Kelly, 
Ewing, Snyder, Sullivan, Clapp, Bergen and other good ones, 
were wrist throwers and danced the ball away like a flash. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 73 



THE USE OF SIGNALS 

It would be impossible to play up-to-date Base Ball without 
a variety of signals, well understood by each member of the 
team. 

It was only a few years ago when the battery alone used 
signals; now every man on the team should know the style of 
ball the pitcher is about to deliver, and whether it will go close 
to the batsman or a little wide of the player. The fielders will 
then have a chance to be on the move in the right direction nine 
times out of ten — a winning percentage. Charley Snyder was 
the cleverest catcher the game has produced, when it came to 
signal work. He never allo.wed his pitcher to look towards a 
base, unless when throwing the ball. Snyder would give the 
signal to the pitcher in position to deliver the bail, but never 
until he had sized up the base-runner and had him working back 
to a base. Pitchers are apt to give too much attention to the 
base-runner and weaken their chances to get the man at bat. 
Snyder avoided this condition, and had his pitchers always in a 
position to let the ball go the instant that he gave the signal. 

In throwing to first and third, to get a man napping, Snyder 
would give the signal one ball before he was to take the chance, 
giving time for all to be on the alert to back up. 

The game has grown so full of moves that a clever man 
handling a team from the bench will be kept very busy, and 
must know the signals as well as the players. Managers should 
not labor under the impression that signals will avail if the ball 
players are absent. It takes clever men to work with the slight 
moves, and suggestions necessary for team work, for open signal 
work is very easily detected by your opponent, who will in- 
stantly turn his knowledge to his own advantage. 

Signals, however, are positively necessary for a team's success 
in up-to-date Base Ball when team work is called for. 



74 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



SHORT TALKS ON A VARIETY OF BASE 
BALL TOPICS 

BASE BALL GROUNDS. 

There is nothing more pleasing to the eye of a ball player 
than a fine ball park, with a level surface well kept. 

Skin diamonds will do where nothing better can be found, but 
Base Ball must be played on a turf diamond to bring out all the 
beauties of the game. 

Some of the oldest ball clubs in this country are even to-day 
content with second and third-class infields, handicapping the 
work of the players, and forcing the patrons of the sport to 
witness many misplays, due wholly to the rough surface. 

The infielders must make plays on the dead run, and being 
often forced to time a ball between bounds, depend fully on the 
grounds being as smooth as a billiard table, as the least thing 
will throw a ball out of its true course, and only the real 
phenomenons can play grounders on a rough surface. Here and 
there you will discover a player who will trap a bah between 
bounds in such a way that a rough surface is overcome. The 
average player, however, must have a smooth surface or show 
up badly at times. Nearly all of the hard drives to short and 
second are picked up on unturfed grounds, first and third alone 
being forced to face the hot shot as the ball comes off the grass. 

Nine-tenths of the m.isplays made in the outfield on ground 
balls are the fault of the ground not being properly leveled and 
cared for. With the large receipts from the big games, every 
major league club in particular, and all professional clubs in 
general, should furnish a level surface for the game, and have 
the same kept in order, so that the players will be responsible 
for only the actual mistakes they make. Perfect ball grounds 
will improve the game twenty-five per cent, and be appreciated 
by the followers of the great sport. To roll true, a ball must 
have an even surface, and the more perfect the ball rolls the 
more ground will, the players cover and the more speed attained 
for the pleasure of the spectator. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

PRELIMINARY TRAINING OF PLAYERS. 



75 



The major league teams go south for early practice while the 
minor league teams must work out at the home grounds. This 
is not so bad where the small leagues start the season quite 
late. The college teams usually work out in the gyms and cages 
before taking to the open fields. 

I have gone south with a Boston team now for seventeen 
straight years in the early spring, and made careful notes of 
the work done by the players. Manager Frank Selee was in 
charge of the team a number of years, and I believe he was the 
very best trainer that I have known and brought his men to 
the startmg line iri the best condition. 

The very first thing that Manager Selee did was to put each 
man on the scales and get his weight. He would look out for 
the men's diet and at the close of each week, weigh the men 
once more. In this way he knew just what work to map out 
for each player and then saw that his orders were carried out. 

The great danger in the spring is sore arms, and the greatest 
care should be taken in this line of work ; in fact, men should 
not be allowed to throw the ball around the diamond until a 
week's training, and then only with great care. 

The players should first jog about the bases until all soreness 
has gone, when they should practice sprinting, and give a great 
deal of time to starting and turning the bases. 

Pitchers should work daily for weeks before attempting to 
let out, and the catchers should be more cautious than the other 
players when throwing the ball. 

When the men are in shape then extra speed should be tried 
for and the development of team work practiced constantly until 
the men could make the play blindfolded, figuratively speaking. 

The young pitchers should do the bulk of the box work in the 
cool spring weather, as the older pitchers should be allowed 
their own time to come to the line, as they know best when they 
are in winning form, and all love to work when on edge for a 
good performance. 

When ready for practice, keep a pitcher in the box to bat 
against, and spend at least one-half of the time in bunting and 
place hitting. No player ever got too much batting practice. It 
isn't necessary to smash away at the ball simply to get your 
stick against the leather, and don't wait for balls to be sent you 
in a groove. Nine men out of ten who are successful in bunt- 
ing the ball, or placing a pitched ball, grip the bat up short, as 
they have a better control, and more likely to meet the ball. 
Infielders should work with all the speed possible in practice, 
as this will show to advantage when in the games later on. 



76 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

Distances must be so well gauged that a player could make the 
play blindfolded, and this is brought about by speed practice. 

I think one of the worst features about spring training is the 
way managers run their players to and from the ball parks, 
mostly through the paved streets of cities. The proper way 
would be to take the men to the ball parks in conveyances, and 
after giving them all the work they could stand, bring the tired 
men home the same way. After a hard practice a long walk or 
run to the hotel leaves the player in weak condition and all 
desire for speed vanished. The ball field is the place to train a 
ball player. 

The minor league players, handicapped by weather conditions, 
must be brought to the line by slow stages. Their one advan- 
tage is youth and players can stand most any kind of weather 
until they have encountered lame arms or strains of any kind. 

College men take too much work in cages and gyms. The 
batting practice is absolutely injurious and the only good may 
be a development of pitchers and base-running, and the chances 
are that all players are starting under a handicap when they do 
their preliminary work indoors. Professional players have come 
to the conclusion that reading at night or on the cars is in- 
jurious to the eyes and therefore should be avoided as much as 
possible by the fraternity. This is one reason that college men 
soon drop out of the business on account of weak stickwork, for 
eyesight is everything when it comes to hitting cleverly pitched 
balls. 

NERVE COUNTS IN BASE BALL. 

One of the most essential ingredients to a winning player's 
makeup is nerve. Without a strong nerve a ball player has 
little chance of winning a place among the stars of the profes- 
sion. Although several have shown to good advantage as 
players, yet a lack of nerve at the time when it required staying 
prowess lost for these men the wholesome respect of the Base 
Ball fraternity, who admire nerve, perhaps more than brilliant 
playing qualities. 

A player who will become rattled is an easy man to beat out, 
but just as soon as the discovery is made that a player has the 
nerve to go the distance, he is then passed up as one to be left 
alone. On the other hand, let it be whispered about that a 
player lacks nerve, and he is sure to become a mark for his 
opponents, who will bother him in many ways and keep his 
attention off his work. 

Men strengthen their nerves by playing together; often weak- 
hearted players will brace when blended with a nervy bunch, as 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 



77 



the latter will see the advantage of encouraging their fellow- 
workmen, who has the ability, but not the fire, to be efifective 
under trying situations. 

Some ball players fairly shine when the situation is critical, 
and extra fine work is called for. They become cool under fire 
and plan their defence like magic. They have strong nerves and 
hearts that beat with the regulation of an old hall clock. 
Matched against this brand of ball player, what chance has a 
man with a fluttering heart and a nerve affected by every pass- 
ing cloud? 

To keep the nerve keyed up to its proper strength ball players 
must take care of their systems, by avoiding all dissipation, and 
not live the strenuous life. Those who start without the real 
nerve can never be expected to develop the favor, although as- 
sociation with the real thing will help considerably. 



PLAYERS SHOULD KNOW THE PLAYING RULES. 

It can be set down for a positive fact that less than one-half 
the professional ball players fully understand the playing rules. 

Only a small majority of the ball players make any study of 
the rules, and are ever at a loss to explain complicated plays 
and show surprise at the imipire's findings. 

Usually all is left to the captain of the team, who is supposed 
to read up on the new rules each season and teach the men 
before the regular games begin. 

The wise player will carefully read the rules and become 
thoroughly posted at all times, protecting his own game, and 
showing that he takes an interest in his business. 

I have seen hundreds of men apply for umpire berths and 
felt competent to make good, until they were asked three or 
four off-hand questions, when they were forced to admit they 
had not learned their lesson before applying for the place. 

I never knew but one man who could explain the meaning of 
every rule in the Spalding Official Guide, and that was the late 
Harry Wright, who was absolutely letter perfect, and always 
willing to teach all comers. Base Ball was a deep study with 
Mr. Wright and each spring he would hand each of his players 
a book of rules and expect each man to read carefully, and be 
prepared to answer any question that he might ask. By this 
system the players under Mr. Wright were always far ahead of 
the fraternity, and won many points by their better knowledge 
of the game. 

The late Robert Ferguson was a natural rule maker, and al- 
ways advised umpires to consider "fair play" when in doubt 



-g SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

about a rule. Ferguson contended that the umpire alone could 

make ground rules, as there was no provision in the Guide 

until "fair play" and Ferguson's rules became synonymous. 
Players should learn the rules. 



COLLIDING ON THE BALL FIELD. 

Team mates colliding on a ball field during a game is wholly 
unnecessary, and yet many games have been lost in this way, 
especially before large crowds. During ordinary games, with 
little or no noise from cheering crowds, players can avoid all 
the trouble, by calling out, "I have it," when the fielders are 
after a Hy ball. No player should call out until he is sure that 
he can reach the ball. Then when he does call out the other 
player or players running for the same fly should play to back 
up, and give the man who is after the ball a fair and open field. 
Once a fielder calls that he has it, he alone should pay atten- 
tion to the ball, and he should make every efifort to reach the 
ball knowing that he had a clear field. 

Where large crowds attend the games, such as were present 
at the great world's championship series, the players should 
work with signals, as it is impossible to hear what players say. 
I would suggest that as soon as a player finds he can take the 
ball, that he stretch out his arms. This would not impede his 
speed and would be easily understood. In foot ball the player 
about to make a fair catch raises one hand above his head. 

This signal would handicap a ball player at full speed, while 
throwing the hands wide apart is a natural move for a fielder 
about to pull down a fly ball. 

Both the second-baseman and the shortstop are supposed to 
dash into the outfield at full speed for every short fly ball, and the 
fact that they are running with their back to the plate forces 
the outfielders to allow them to try for many balls that would 
have been easy for the outfielders. In cases of this kind all 
depends on the outfielder. If he calls out in time the infielder 
can stop. The trouble will come where the noise from the 
crowd prevents one player hearing the other. In this contin- 
gency the outfielder must protect the infielder by allowing the 
latter to make the play if possible ; in fact, all depends on the 
outfielder. 

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS DISCUSSED. 

A ball player might be valuable to a club in New Orleans and 
of little use to a team in Boston. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 7g 

The best players have found it next to impossible to give good 
satisfaction to clubs in Washington and St. Louis, to feel at 
home and do good work in Boston and Chicago. 

It is a rare thing to find a major league pennant winner from 
an inland city, and the reason for this is often given as the 
result of climatic conditions. 

For example, the great pitcher, Cy Young, was all out of 
condition and pitched a few games for the St. Louis club. Irle 
enjoyed the distinction of being considered one of the best for 
ten years at Cleveland, and kept up his splendid work as soon 
as he came to Boston. He claimed that St. Louis did not agree 
with him. and it was too hot there in the summer, while the cool 
breezes of the lake at Cleveland, and the sea at Boston put him 
on edge for his best work. 

For years players have fought shy of Washington, while de- 
lighted to play in New York, Philadelphia, Boston. Chicago and 
Detroit, where the conditions were more favorable for invigorat- 
ing weather. 

Players pass from the big leagues of the north with lame 
arms and ether ailments to revive as soon as thej' take up their 
homes in iiie Southland. The east winds of Boston are trying 
to pitchers who depend on curving, while the South is the 
proper country for the player with a lame arm. The players 
seldom mind the heat in the South, as it comes gradually and 
is generally cool at night. 

Going West into the higher altitudes, the weak lunged players 
will find the best playgrounds, for a young man may be a frost 
in Boston, and win the applause of the fans in Denver. Large 
sized players have a chance to do their best work in the cooler 
cities, while the smaller player will thrive in the South and far 
West. 

Washington and Cincinnati have never been able to win any- 
thing more than a minor league championship since Base Ball 
became a national institution. 

Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit and 
Pittsburg have monopolized the honors under organized ball, 
and Pittsburg, the city at the junction of two rivers, had to 
strike her colors when she met the vigorous youth of Boston, 
fed on baked beans and east wind. 

The most delightful cities to play ball in for a season are San 
Francisco, Oakland, Portland (Oregon), Boston, New York, 
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Clevelasd, Detroit, Chicago and Mil- 
waukee, and other cities close to the salt water and big lakes. 

On several occasions Cincinnati started out with pennant pos- 
sibilities, but was never able to finish in the fast compr.ny of the 
major leagues. The only team that ever won for the Queen 



8o SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

City was the famous Cincinnati Reds, of '69 and '70. The team 
was made up mostly of Eastern players and four-fifths of the 
games were played away from home. 

Where teams are as evenly matched as they are at the present 
time, in the major leagues, the climatic conditions will tell the 
story nine times out of ten. 

In picking a team for one of the warmer or inland cities it 
would be well to select the kind of player most likely to flourish 
under the conditions, and the older the player the more par- 
ticular he becomes; and while able to hold up his end will be 
apt to pick out the place instead of being selected. I know of 
several players who failed to put their best efforts forth, simply 
because they were anxious to go to other cities, where the con- 
ditions would suit their physical makeup. 

The mistake is often made of training a ball team in the 
warm weather of the far South, and then bringing the men to 
the North for severe games. The result is bad and often very 
costly to the club. A gradual drifting from one climatic con- 
dition to another is a fairly safe proposition, but there is nothing 
more dangerous to limb and muscles than quick changes from 
South to North in the early spring. 

Curve pitchers can do their best work in the warmer climates, 
while the best batsmen are in their glory with the cool, bright, 
sporty conditions of the climate. 



THE KNOCKER IN BASE BALL. 

There is absolutely no room for the knocker in a successful 
Base Ball team. 

Some of the strongest teams ever organized have gone to 
pieces as the result of adding this microbe to the payroll of a 
ball club. There is no instance in the history of our game 
where a pronounced knocker has ever shone as a success, while 
a long string of signal failures were branded as champion 
knockers after showing their true colors in the handling of great 
ball players. 

A few names stand out in Base Ball as successful managers 
of men on the ball field. First comes Harry Wright, who orig- 
inated and developed professional Base Ball ; then comes A. G. 
Spalding, A. C. Anson, John M. Ward, Charley Comiskey, 
Frank G. Selee, Edward tl anion, Fred Clarke, James Collins, 
Connie Mack and John IMcGraw. Those men were in absolute 
control of their teams and no man living can point to one in- 
stance of knocking by this select band of successful Base Ball 
directors. Every team handled by these men contained one or 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. gj 

more grand master of the art of knocking, but were always 
marked men and held in place by the tact of the man at the 
helm. 

In the major leagues every knocking player is a marked man, 
for the tip is passed along from one club to another, until the 
player is often released for this cause alone. He knows his own 
faults and each time determines to cut it out, but he cannot re- 
sist the temptation to indulge again in the exquisite pleasure 
when he finds a manager willing to listen, until once more 
passed up as a trouble maker. 

The greatest ball players are as sensitive as the E string of 
a violin and the semblance of a knock will often put them to 
the bad. Deep-thinking players have grown wise to the effects 
of making offhand remarks about each other, no matter how in- 
viting the occasion, until the professional ball player is gradually 
becoming a model of discretion. 

I will take John McGraw for an example. Being in abso- 
lute control of his New York players, he is not hampered by 
the owners of the club. No club in the business has a greater 
number of men who have been knocked from one club to an- 
other as New York. With a full quota of knockers in line, 
McGraw has taken this combination and by his own example 
has rounded out a well behaved lot of professionals. Success 
will weld the players together and the men listen to "Little 
Mack," who is ever on the alert for their good will, while never 
afraid to call down the guilty man. McGraw has practically 
reformed several bad men. Collins, Clarke, Mack, Comiskey 
and Selee have tamed an army of erratic players. Players are 
like the strings of a golden harp, they forever need tuning up, 
and it takes a master hand and mind to blend the notes into 
perfect harmony. 

Some of the best ball players in the past, have withered under 
the expression, "You're a knocker," until a clever manager, as 
well as the level-headed player, is ever careful not to come 
under this class. The meanest kind of a knocker is the player 
who carries stories to the club officials. If the men in charge 
are not bright enough to keep in close touch with the hired 
players, why, they are entitled to a shade the worst of it, is the 
rock bottom philosophy of the ball player, and this is what 
makes valuable a manager who is up to the inside work of the 
player, both on and off the field, and such were the accomplish- 
ments of the men who made a success in the Base Ball busi- 
ness. No superficial knowledge ever won out, and but one man 
in the history, not a professional himself, at one time, ever won 
the blue ribbon of success. That exception to the rule was 
Frank G. Selee, who ever managed to be surrounded with high 



Q SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 

class lieutenants, who were never jealous of their manager and 
gave him their best efforts. 

Frank Selee was ever on the alert for the knocker, and when 
he discovered one he was released in a quiet way and passed 
out of Selee's control. I could quote several cases in pomt while 
Selee managed the Boston club for a dozen years. 

The president of a ball club should never resort to personalities 
about ball players in general, and particularly not about his own 
men, no matter how poor their work may be, for the players 
have their off days just as in other lines of work, and it is when 
poor luck is following closely they need the most sympathy. 
Once the players have pronounced the official of the club a 
knocker trouble begins and the club commences to lose the power 
of making money, and very often able managers are unable to 
get proper results, simply because they are forced to take orders 
from men who are not capable of luiderstanding the laws of 
friction in a Base Ball club, where mind over matter is just as 
essential for success as a good pair of legs. Be charitable but 
firm. , , , 

Ball players usually know better than any one else when they 
are failing to make good and will ever listen to a fair criticism 
from the man in charge. • i c ^ 

The pick of the profession could not land a team m the first 
division if compelled to travel with a knocker as leader. Hearts 
as well as heads and hands win ball games, and the combination, 
like an eight-day clock, must be continually regulated and looked 

Let the fan knock, let the reporters have their little knock. 
The man who never attends the game is bound to knock on 
general principles. The team will thrive, even under these con- 
ditions, but let the officers of the club come under the head of 
knockers and there is no chance for success, for a ball team with 
a knocker in command is like a boat drifting onto hidden rocks 
with her rudder gone. .. . ., , ..rr •*■ 

In the words of a Quaker Base Ball philosopher, If you can t 

boost, don't knock." 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASH BALL GDIDB. 

SPALDING'S 
SIMPLIFIED BASE BALL RULES 

Simplifled Base Ball rules have been prepared by Mr A q. 
Snaldinsr of New York and Chicago, who is the recognized 
aKrUy on the National Game. They are of gi-ea* as^J^tance 
to beginners as well as to veterans Based on the Officia 
Plaving Rules, as published in Spalding s Official Base Bau 
Guide thev stkte in condensed form all the technicalities that 
must 'be observed in the sport without the somewhat dry and 
formal wording which is necessarily employed by the rule 
makers to state each fact with great explicitnesg , 

The Simplifled Rules are intended especially for the amateur 
player and spectator. It is frequently the case that both have 
neither the time nor the inclination to study at length the 
relson for motives through the mtricacies of the Complete 
Code of riaving Rules. Tlie latter are essential, of course, to 

"^In^'Thl'simpHfl'ed^'Rules nothing will be found lacking which 
is accessory to the game. Wherever the technical reading of 
a luTe is Jought tlie simplified code provides for ready refer- 
ence which is another point in its favor. 

A diSn is made of the important departments under 
aDDronriate headings, with a special notation referring to the 
p^Klkr official ?-ule m the Spalding Guide beanng upon 
the point which is under discussion. By this mf.tb"^ it will be 
observed that it is easy to turn from the Simp ified Rules 
?othr Official Rules whenever the exact law as laid down by 
the authorities of the major leagues is deemed requisite for 
consultation. 

The Ball Ground- 
How to Lay it Out 

Base Ball is played upon a level field, upon T^hlch is out; 
lined a square, which is known as the infield or diamond. 
The term "diamond," in a broader sense, is also frequently 
used in the United States to apply to the entire playing held. 
Literally, however, the "diamond" is the infield proper. 

The "infield is bounded by the base-running paths, which 
extend from base to base. The bases are placed at right 
angles to each other, on each comer of the "diamond, at 
intervals of ninety feet beginning from the home plate. Thus, 
first base must be ninetv feet from home plate, second base 
ninety feet from first base, third base ninety feet from second 
base and also ninety feet from the home plate, thus completing 
a perfect square. , , , 

The territory which lies behind third base, second base and 
first base, beyond the infield and within the lines defining fair 
ground and also without these lines, is known as the outfield. 
All that portion of the field outside of the base lines that 
extend from home plate to first base and from home plate to 
third base, all territory behind the home plate and all terri- 
tory outside of straight lines reaching from the outside corner 
of 'third and first bases indefinitely to the outfield Is foul 
ground. , , , ^ , t> 

Sometimes it is impossible for boys who desire to play Base 
Ball to obtain a field sufficiently large for the regulation 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDB. 

Jiamond, whose dimensions have previously been stated, and 
in such cases an effort should always be made to place the 
bases at equal distances from each other in order that the 
symmetry of the diamond and the correct theory of the game 
may be preserved. Players of younger years may find that a 
smaller diamond adds more enjoyment to their amusement, 
since they are better able to cover the ground in fielding the 
ball in a smaller area and do not become so fatigued by running 
(he bases when the latter are stationed at their full legal dis- 
tance from each other. 

The bases, except home plate, are best constructed of canvas 
bags filled with sawdust. Home plate should be of whitened 
rubber, whenever it is possible to obtain it. Some cruder sub 
stance may be used for bases if nothing else is obtainable, but 
it is best to follow the suggestions given. First, second and 
third bases should be attached to pegs driven in the ground, 
.nnd home plate should be sunk so that its upper surface is o-; 
a level with the surface of the ground. 

The pitcher's position on a diamond of regulation size is 
located sixty and five-tenths feet from home plate, and on a 
straight line, extending from home plate to the center of second 
base. It, too, should be denoted by a plate of whitened rubber 
to be sunk until its upper surface is on a level with the surface 
of the field. This plate should be the shape of a parallelo- 
gram twenty-four inches long by six inches wide, with the 
longer sides of the parallelogram at right angles to home 
plate. 

If a diamond smaller than the regulation size be used, the 

pitcher's position should be relatively closer to home plate. 

(For detailed description of laying out a "diamond" see 

Rules Nos. 1 to 13, inclusive, of Spalding's Official 

Base Ball Guide. J 

The Ball 

The Spalding OflScial National League Ball is used in regula- 
tion games, but for players fifteen years of age or younger, the 
Spalding Official "National League Junior" ball, made the 
same as the National League Ball, only slightly smaller in 
size, should be used, for it better fits the boy's hand and pre- 
vents straining the arm in throwing. 

(See Rule No. 14 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 

The Regulation Bat 

The Bat must alwavs be round and not to exceed 2% inches 
in diameter at the thickest part. Spalding Trade Mark Bats 
are made to suit all ages and physiques, and are strictly in 
accordance with official regulations. 

(See Rule No. 15 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 

Regulation Gloves and Mitts 

The catcher or first baseman may wear a glove or mitt of 
any size, shape or weight. Every other player is restricted to 
the use of a glove or mitt weighing not over ten ounces and 
measuring not over fourteen inches around the palm. Spalding's 
Trade Marked Gloves and Mitts are regulation weight and size 
and are used by all champion players. 

(See Rule No. 20 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASE BALL OniDB. 



Flayers' Uniforms 



Games played by players not clad in a regular uniform are 
called "scrub" games and are not recorded as "match" games. 
Every club should adopt a regular uniform, not only to enable 
the players to play properly and with comfort, but to distin- 
guish one team from the other. 

(See Rule No. 19 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 



Players' Benches 



All ball grounds should be provided with two players' benches 
back of and on each side of the home plate. They must be not 
less than twenty-five feet outside of the coachers' lines. The 
coachers may not go within fifteen feet of the base lines. Each 
team should occupy one of these benches exclusively, and their 
bats and accoutrements should be kept near the bench. 

(See Rule No. 21 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 

Field Rules 

No person shall be allowed upon any part of the playing 
field except the players in uniform, the manager of each side 
(and the latter not when the game is in progress, except that 
he is in uniform) ; the umpire and the ofiicers of the law. No 
manager, captain, or player is supposed to address the specta- 
tors. In a regular League match this is considered a viola- 
tion of the rules. 

(See Rules Nos. 75-77 of Spalding's Official Base Ball 
Guide.) 

Soiling and Providing Balls 

No player shall be allowed to soil a new ball prior to put- 
ting it into play. 

In League games the home team provides the ball. It Is 
customary in smaller leagues to expect the home team to do 
the same. The umpire has the custody of the ball when it la 
not in play, but at the conclusion of the game the ball becomes 
the property of the winning team. 

(See Rule No. 14 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 

Number and Position of Players 

Two teams make up each contest with nine players on each 
side. The fielders are known as the pitcher, the catcher, the 
first baseman, the second baseman, the third baseman, the 
shortstop, the left fielder, the center fielder and the right 
fielder. None of these is required to occupy an exact position 
on the field, except the pitcher, who must stand with his foot 
touching the pitcher's plate when in the act of delivering the 
ball to the batter, and the catcher, who must be within the 
"catcher's space" behind the batter and within tan feet of 
home plate. Players in uniform must not occupy seats in the 
stands or mingle with the spectators. 

(See Rules Nos. 16, 17 and 18 of Spalding's Official Base 
Ball Guide.) 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASH BALL GDIDB. 

Substitute Players 

It is always advisable to have a sufficient number of suu- 
Btitutes in uniform ready to take tiie field in case any player 
shall become disal)led or be disqualified. 

(See Rule No. 28 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 

Choice of Innings — 
Fitness of Field for Play 

The home team has the choice of innings and determines 
whether the ground is fit for play providing it has rained 
before the beginning of the game. If two clubs from the same 
city are playing, the captain of the team on whose ground the 
game is played has the choice of innings. 

(See Rule No. 29 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 



A Regulation Game 



The game begins with the fielders of the team losing the 
choice of innings in their respective positions. The first batter 
of the opposing team is in his "box" at home plate. This 
"box"' is a parallelogram, six feet by four, on either side of 
home plate, and six inches back from the furthest corner of 
the plate. 

If it is not possible to outline a "box" it should be remem- 
bered that the batter is never allowed to step over home plate 
to strike at the ball, and that he must not run forward toward 
the pitcher, to exceed three feet from the center of the plate, 
to strike at the ball. 

The umpire may take his position, at his option, either 
behind the pitcher or the catcher. He judges all balls and 
strikes, declares all outs, decides whether the ball is batted 
foul or fair, decides as to the legality of the pitcher's deliv- 
ery, and, in fact, has complete control of the game. His 
decisions must never be questioned, except by tlie captain of 
either team, and only by the latter when there is a diflference 
of opinion as to the correct interpretation of the rules. 

The team at bat is allowed two coaches on the field, one 
opposite first base and the other opposite third base, but they 
must never approach either base to a distance closer than 
fifteen feet, and must not coach when there are no runners on 
the bases. 

Whenever a player is substituted on a nine he must always 
bat in the order of the man who retires from the game. A 
player may be substituted at any time, but the player whose 
place he takes is no longer eligible to take part in the contest. 

When a substitute takes the pitcher's place in the box he must 
remain there until the batsman then at bat either is retired or 
reaches first base. 

A game is won when the side first at hat scores fewer runs 
in nine innings than the side second at bat. This rule applies 
to games of fewer innings. Thus, whenever the side second 
at bat has scored more runs in half an inning less of play 
than the side first at bat it is the winner of the game, pro- 
vided that the side first at bat haf5 completed five full innings 
as batsmen. A game is also won if the side last at bat scores 
the winning run before the third hand is out. 

In case of a tie game play continues until at the end of 
even innings one side has scored more runs than the other, 
provided that if the side last at bat scores the winning run 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE. 

Defore the third hand is out the game shall terminate. This 
latter provision applies to a regular nine-inning game. Rul- 
ings relative to drawn games and games that are called because 
of atmospheric disturbances, tire or panic vi'ill be found under 
the head of "Umpire's Duties." 

(See Rules Nos. 22-27 of Spalding's Official Base Ball 
Guide.) 



Pitching Rules 



Before pitching the ball the pitcher must face the batsman 
with both feet squarely on the ground and in front of the 
pitcher's plate. When the ball is delivered the pitcher must 
face the batter and one of his feet must be in contact with 
the pitcher's plate. Not more than one step must be taken in 
the act of delivery. 

Whenever the ball after being pitched and without striking 
the ground goes over any part of home plate between the knee 
and the shoulder of the batsman it must be called a strike, 
whether the batsman strikes at it or not. 

If the pitcher fails to deliver the ball over any part of the 

Elate, or if he delivers it over the plate above the shoulder or 
elow the knee and the batsman declines to strike at it, It is 
called a ball. 

If the ball touches the ground before it passes home plate 
and is not struck at by the batsman, it is a ball and must be 
called as such by the umpire. If struck at, it is, of course, 
recorded as a strike. 

At the beginning of each inning the pitcher Is allowed to 
throw five balls to the catcher or to an infielder for "warming- 
up" practice, the batsman refraining from occupying his posi- 
tion in the "box" at home plate. 

After the batsman steps into his position the pitcher must 
not throw the ball around the infield, except to i-etire a base 
runner. If he violates this rule and, in the opinion of the 
umpire, is trying to delay the game, the umpire may call a 
ball for every throw thus made. If the pitcher occupies more 
than twenty seconds in delivering the ball to the batter the 
umpire may call a ball for each offense of this nature. 

The pitcher must not make any motion to deliver the ball 
to the batsman and fail to do so, nor must he feint to throw 
to first base when it is occupied by a runner and fail to 
complete the throw. Violation of this rule constitutes a balk 
which gives all runners who are on the bases at the time an 
opportunity to advance a base each without being put out. 

A balk is also declared when the pitcher throws to any 
base to catch a runner without stepping directly toward that 
base in the act of making the throw ; when either foot of the 
pitcher is behind the pitcher's plate when he delivers the ball ; 
when he fails to face the batsman in the act of delivering the 
ball ; when neither foot of the pitcher is in contact with the 
pitcher's plate in the act of delivering the ball ; when in the 
opinion of the umpire the pitcher is purposely delaying the 
game ; when he stands in his position and makes any motion 
with any part of his body corresponding to his customary mo- 
tion when pitching and fails immediately to deliver the ball ; 
when he delivers the ball to the catcher when the latter is 
outside of the catcher's box. 

When a pitched ball, at which the batsman has not struck, 
hits the batsman or the umpire before the catcher touches it, 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE. 

the umpire must call it a dead ball and no base runner can 
advance. The batsman, however, must be in his position at 
the time that the ball hits him and must make every effort 
to get out of the way of the ball if he fears that it will hit 
him. 

If a batsman makes a foul strike, if a foul hit is not 
caught, if the umpire declares a dead ball, or if a fair hit ball 
touches a base runner, the ball becomes dead and is not in 
play until after it has been returned to the pitcher, standing 
in his position, and the umpire has given the word to resume 
play. No base runners may advance when the ball is not in 
play. 

Whenever a person not engaged in the game touches a batted 
or thrown ball, a block follows. This must at once be an- 
nounced by the umpire, and runners shall be privileged to 
advance bases until the ball is thrown to the pitcher, standing 
in his position. After that they advance at their peril. The 
pitcher may then throw a runner out wherever he sees a 
possibility of doing so. Should a spectator retain possession 
of a blocked ball, or throw it or kick it out of the reach of 
the fielder who is endeavoring to recover it, the umpire must 
call "Time," and hold all runners at such bases as they occu- 
pied when he called "Time" until after he has permitted play 
to resume, with the ball returned to the pitcher standing in 
his position. 

(See Rules Nos. 30-37 of Spalding's Official Base Ball 
Guide.) 



Battind Rules 



Before the game begins each captain must present the bat- 
ting order of his team to the umpire, who shall submit it to 
the captain of the other side. This batting order is followed 
throughout the game except when a player is substituted for 
another, the substitute batting in the order of the retired 
player. 

Each player of each nine must go to bat In his regular 
order unless a substitute has been authorized to take his 
place. 

After the first inning the first batter in each succeeding 
inning is the player following the man who completed his 
full time at bat in the inning before. For Instance, if a 
batter has but one strike in the first inning and the third 
hand be put out while he is at bat, he becomes the first batter 
in the following inning, not having completed his full time at 
bat in the inning previous. In such case, any balls and 
strikes called in the previous inning do not count when he 
resumes his time at bat. 

Players of the side at bat must remain on their seats on the 
players' bench except when called upon to bat, to coach, or to 
act as substitute base runners. 

No player of the side at bat except the batsman is priv- 
ileged to stand in the space behind the catcher, or to cross It 
while the pitcher and catcher are handling the ball. 

Playei's sitting on the bench of the side at bat must get out 
of the way of fielders who approach them while trying to 
field a batted or thrown ball. 

Any legally batted ball tliat settles on fair ground (the 
infield) between home and first base, or between home and 
third base, or that bounds from (air ground to the outfield 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE. 

inside of first base, or third base, or that touches the person ©f 
a player or the umpire on fair ground, is a fair hit. 

Jl ifair hit is also any legally batted ball that first falls 
on' fair territory beyond first base or third base. 

Any legally batted ball that settles on foul ground is a foul 
hit except that a ground hit, should it roll from foul to fair 
territory between first and home and third and home, and 
remain there, is a fair hit. . , ,, 

A ground hit that first strikes fair territory and rolls out- 
side of the foul line between first and home, or third and 
home, is a foul hit. . , ^ .^ . j 

Anv legally batted ball that falls on foul territory beyond 
first base, or third base, or that touches the person of a player 
or an umpire on foul ground, is a foul hit. 

A foul tip is the continuation of a strike which has merely 
been touched by the bat, shoots directly into the hands of the 
catcher and is held by him. ,. „ , , ,^i,- *»,« 

A bunt hit Is legally tapping the ball slowly within the 
infield by the batsman. If a foul result, which is not legally 
caught, the batsman is charged with a strike, whether it be 
the first, second or third strike 

Any hit going outside the ground is fair or foul as tne 
umpire judges its flight at the point at which it passes beyond 
the limitations of the enclosure in which the contest takes 
place. A legal home run over a wall or a fence can only be 
made when the wall or fence is 235 feet from the home plate. 
This rule is not invariably followed in amateur games. 

If the batsman strikes at a pitched ball and misses it, a 
strike is Ctilled 

If the batsman fails to strike at a pitched ball which passes 
over the plate at the proper height, a strike is called. 

A foul tip caught by the catcher is a strike. 

A foul hit, whether a fly or a ground hit, bounding to any 
part of foul ground, is a strike unless the batter has two 
strikes After two strikes the batter may foul the ball without 
penalty unless he bunts Or is caught out on a foul fly. 

All bunts rolling foul are strikes. If the batsman strikes 
at the ball and misses it. but the ball hits him, it is a strike. 

If the batsman, with either of his feet out of the batsman's 
box, hits the ball in any way it is a foul strike and the bats- 
man is out. . ,. J, CA. 

If a batsman bats out of turn and it is discovered after 
he has completed his time at bat, but before the ball has been 
delivered to the succeeding batsman, the player who should 
have batted is out, and no runs can be scored, or bases be 
run, on any play made by the wrong batter. This penalty is 
not enforced unless the error has been discovered before the 
ball is delivered by the pitcher to the succeeding batsman. 

If the error is discovered while the wrong batsman is at 
bat, the proper player may take his place, but he must be 
charged with whatever balls and strikes have already been 
recorded against the wrong batsman. Whenever this happens 
the batters continue to follow each other in their regular 
order. „ , ^,. ^ * 

Should the batsman who is declared out for battmg out or 
order be the third hand out, the proper batsman in the next 
inning is the player who would have come to bat had the side 
been retired by ordinary play in the preceding inning. 

The batsman is out if he fails to tt.ke his position withm 
one minute after the umpire has called for him. 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE. 

The batsman is out if a foul fly, other than a foul tip, Is 
caught by a fielder, providing the latter does not use his cap, 
his protector, or any illegal contrivance to catch the ball, and 
providmg the ball does not strike some object other than a 
fielder before being caught. It has been ruled that when the 
ball lodges in the catcher's protector by accident and he 
secures it before it falls to the ground, the catch is fair. Thla 
is a very exceptional play. 

The batsman is out on a foul strike. 

The batsman is out whenever he attempts to hinder the 
catcher from fielding or throwing the ball, either by stepping 
outside of the lines of his position or by deliberate obstruc- 
tion. 

The batsman is out when three strikes are called and first 
base is occupied, whether the catcher holds the ball or not, 
except there be two hands out at the time. 

The batsman is out, if, while attempting a third strike, the 
ball touches any part of his person, and base runners are not 
allowed to advance. 

Before two men are out, if the batsman pops up a fly to the 
infield with first and second, or first, second and third bases 
occupied, he is out if the umpire decides that it is an infield 
hit. . The umpire shall immediately declare when the ball is 
hit whether it is an infield hit or an outfield hit. It is cus- 
tomary for the umpire to call the batter out in case that he 
decides it an infield hit, so that base runners may be pro- 
tected and not force each other out through the medium of a 
double play. 

The batsman is out on a bunt that rolls foul if the attempted 
bunt be made on the third strike. 

The batsman is out if he steps from one batsman's box to 
the other after the pitcher has taken his position. 

(See Rules Nos. 38-51 of Spalding's Official Base Ball 
Guide.) 



Base Running Rules 



After the batsman makes a fair hit in which he Is not put 
out he must touch first, second and third bases, and then the 
home plate in regular succession in order to score a run. 

No base runner may score ahead of the men who precedes 
him in the batting order, if that player is also a base runner. 

The batsman must run to first base immediately after mak- 
ing a fair hit, or when four balls have been called by the 
umpire, or when three strikes have been declared by the umpire. 

If the batsman is hit by a pitched ball, either on his per- 
son or clothing, and the umpire is satisfied that the batsman 
did not purposely get In the way of the ball, and that he 
used due precaution to avoid it, he Is entitled to run to first 
base without being put out. 

The batsman is entitled to run to first base without being 
put out if the catcher interferes with him or tries to prevent 
him from striking at the ball. 

The batsman is entitled to first base, without being put 
out, if a fair hit ball hit either the person or clothing of an 
umpire or a base runner who is on fair ground. 

Whenever the umpire sends the batsman to first base after 
four balls have been called, or for being hit by a pitched ball, 
or because he has been interfered with by the catcher, all 
runners on bases immediately ahead of him may advance s 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASE BALL OriDB. 

base each without being put out. A runner on second or third 
jase with first base unoccupied would not be considered a 
runner itamediately ahead. 

Any base runner is entitled to advance one base when the 
umpire calls a balk. 

Any base runner is entitled to advance one base when the 
ball, after being delivered by the pitcher, passes the catcher 
and touches the umpire, or any fence or building within ninety 
feet of the home plate. The penalty in regard to touching a 
fence or building is frequently waived by mutual consent where 
the ground area is limited. 

If a fielder obstructs a base runner the latter may go to the 
next base without being put out, providing the fielder did not 
have the ball in his hand with which to touch the runner. 

A base runner may advance a base whenever a fielder stops 
or catches the ball with his cap, glove, or any part of his 
uniform detached from its proper place on his person. 

The base runner shall return to his base without liability 
of being put out when a foul is not legally caught, when a 
ground ball is batted foul, or when the batter makes a foul 
strike. 

On a dead ball the runner shall return to his base without 
liability of being put out, unless it happens to be the fourth 
pitched ball to the batter, in which case, if first, or first and 
second base, or first, second and third bases be occupied, run- 
ners shall advance to the next bases in regular order. If by 
accident the umpire interferes with the catcher's throw, or a 
thrown ball hits the umpire, the runner must return to his 
base and is not to be put out. If a pitched ball is struck at 
by the batsman, but missed, and the ball hits the batsman, 
the runner must return to his base and may not be put out. 
In any of the above cases the runner is not required to 
touch any intervening bases to reach the base to which he Is 
legally entitled. 

If after the third strike has been called and missed by 
the catcher the then batsman attempts to hinder the catcher 
from fielding the ball, he is out. 

Any fly ball legally hit by the batsman and legally caught 
on fair or foul ground is out. 

Three strikes are out if the catcher holds the ball. In case 
he drops it, but picks it up, and touches the batsman, or 
throws it to first base, and the first baseman touches the base, 
or the batsman, before the latter can get to first base, the 
batsman is out. 

Should the batsman make a fair hit and in the last half of 
the distance between home plate and first base run more than 
three feet outside of the base line, he is out, except that he 
may run outside of the line to avoid interference with a fielder 
trying to field the ball as batted. This rule is construed rather 
liberally owing to the great speed with which runners go to 
first base. 

Whenever the runner is on the way from first to second base, 
second to third base, or third base to home plate, or in reverse 
order trying to secure the base which he has just left, he 
must keep within three feet of a direct line between bases. 
If he runs out of line to avoid being touched by a fielder, he is 
out. However, if a fielder is on the line trying to field a batted 
ball, the runner may run behind him to avoid interference, and 
shall not be called out for it. 

Interference with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASH BALL GDIDB. 

retires the runner, unless two fielders are after the satue nit, 
and the runner collides with the one whom the umpire be- 
lieves to have had the lesser opportunity to field the ball. 

The runner is always out at any time that he may be 
touched by the ball in the hands of a fielder, unless the runner 
Is on the base to which he is legally entitled. The ball, how- 
ever, must be held by the fielder after he has touched the 
runner. If the runner deliberately knocks the ball out of the 
fielder's hands, to avoid being put out when not on base, he 
shall be declared out. 

If a runner fails to get back to a base after a foul or fair 
hit fly ball is caught, other than a foul tip, before the ball Is 
fielded to that base and legally held, or the runner be touched 
by a fielder with the ball in his hands before he can get back 
to the base last occupied, the runner is out, except that if the 
ball be thrown to the pitcher, and he delivers it to the batter, 
this penalty does not apply. If a base should be torn from its 
fastenings as the runner strikes it, he cannot be put out. 

If a runner is on first base, or runners are on first and 
second bases, or on first, second and third bases, and the ball 
shall be legally batted to fair ground, all base runners are 
forced to rim, except in the case of an infield fly (previously 
referred to), or a long fly toi the outfield. Runners may be 
put out at any succeeding base if the ball is fielded there and 
properly held, or the runners may be touched out between 
bases in the proper manner. After a foul fly Is caught, or 
after a long fly to the outfield is caught, the base runners 
have the privilege of trying for the next base. 

A base runner hit by a legally batted ball in fair territory 
Is out. In such case no base shall be run, unless necessitated 
by the batsman becoming a base runner. No run shall be 
scored nor shall any other base runner be put out except the 
one hit by the batted ball, until the umpire puts the ball in 
play. 

A runner who fails to touch each base in regular or reverse 
order, when a fair play is being made, Is out if the ball be 
properly held by a fleldar on the base that should have been 
touched, or the runner be touched out between bases by the 
ball legally held by a fielder, provided that the ball has not 
been delivered to the batsman in the meantime by the pitcher. 

If a runner fails to return to the base that he occupied 
when "Time" was called after the umpire has announced 
"Play" he is out, provided that the pitcher has not in the 
meantime delivered the ball to the batsman. 

The runner is out if he occupies third base with no one 
out or one out and the batsman interferes with a play that Is 
being made at home plate. 

The rimner is out if he passes a base runner who Is caught 
between two bases. The moment that he passes the preceding 
base rimner the umpire shall declare him out. 

When the batter runs to first base he may overrun that base 
If he turns to the right after passing it. If he turns to the 
left he renders himself liable to be touched out before he gets 
back to the base. 

If, before two hands are out. and third base is occupied, 
the coacher at third base shall attempt to fool a fielder who la 
making or trying to make a play on a batted ball not caught 
on the fly, or on a thrown ball, and thereby draws a tnrow 
to home "plate, the runner on third base must be declared out. 

If one or more members of the team at bat gather around 
a base for which a .runnei is trying, thereby confusing the 



SPALDINGs v»FFICIAL BASH BALL GOIDB. 

delding side, the runner trying for the base shall be declared 
out. 

If a runner touches home plate before another runner pre- 
ceding him in" the batting order, the former loses his right to 
third base. 

(See Rules Nos. 52-57 of Spalding's Official Base Ball 
Guide.) 



Coaching Rules 



The coachers must confine themselves to legitimate direc- 
tions of the base runners only, and there must never be more 
than two coachers on the field, one near first base and the otlier 
near third base. 

(See Rule No. 58 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 



Scoring of Runs 



One run shall be scored every time that a player has made 
the legal circuit of the bases before three men are out, pro- 
vided that a runner who reaches home on or during a play 
in which the third man is forced out, or the third man is put 
out before reaching first base, the runner shall not be entitled 
to score. 

A player who makes a legal hit to fair territory is entitled 
to as many bases as he can advance without being put out. 
If a fielder is unable to get the ball home until the man has 
completed the circuit of the bases, the latter is entitled to a. 
home run, provided the fielder has not made a misplay in 
handling the ball. The same rule applies to the making of a 
three-base hit. a two-base hit, or a hit foi* one base, which is 
also known as a single. 

(See Rule No. 59 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 



Ground Rules 



.'Vny special ground rules shall be imderstood by both team 
captains and the umpire, or umpires, in case there be two 
officials. The captain of the home club establishes the ground 
rules, but if the visiting captain objects, tbo matter must be left 
to the umpire, who has final jurisdiction. 

(See Rule No. 60 of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide.) 



Umpire's Duties 



The umpire has the right to call a draw game, whenever a 
storm interferes, if the score is equal on the last inning played. 
Calling a "draw game" must not be confounded with calling 
"time." 

If the side second at bat is at bat when a storm breaks, 
and the game is subsequently terminated without further play, 
and this side has scored the same number of runs as the other 
side, the umpire can call the game a draw without regard to 
the score of the last equal inning. In other words, the game 
is a draw just as it I'ests. 

Under like conditions if the side second at bat has scored 
more runs than the side first at bat, it shall be declared the 
^\ inner, all runs for both sides being counted. 

A game can be forfeited Ly the umpire if a team refuses to 
take the field within five minutes after he has called "Play" ; 



SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASB BALL GCIDB. 

If one side refuses to play after the game has begun ; if, after 
the umpire has suspended play, one side refuses to play after 
he has again called "Play" ; if one side tries to delay the 
game ; if the rules are violated after warning by the umpire ; 
if there are not nine players on a team after one has been 
removed by the umpire. The umpire has the right to remove 
players for objecting to decisions or for behaving In an un- 
gentlemanly manner. 

Only by the consent of the captain of an opposing team may 
a base runner have a player of his own side rim for him. 

Play may be suspended by the umpire because of rain, and 
if rain falls continuously for thirty minutes the umpire may 
terminate the game. The umpire may call "Time" for any 
valid reason. 



Umpire's Authority 



Under no circumstances shall a captain or player dispute 
the accuracy of an umpire's judgment and decision on a play. 
If the captain thinks the umpire has erred in interpretation 
of the rules he may appeal to the umpire, but no other player 
is privileged to do so. 

(See Rules Nos. 61-62 of Spalding's Official Base Ball 
Guide.) 



General Definitions 



"Play" is the order of the umpire to begin the game or to 
resume it after "Time" has been called. 

"Time" is the order of the umpire to suspend play tem- 
porarily. 

"Game" is the announcement of the umpire that the contest 
is terminated. 

"Inning" is the time at bat of one team and is terminated 
when three of that team have been legally put out. 

"Time at Bat" is the duration of a batter's turn against 
the pitcher until he becomes a base runner in one of the ways 
prescribed in the previous rules. In scoring a batter is exempt 
from a time at bat if he is given a base on balls, if he makes 
a sacrifice hit, if he is hit by a pitched ball, or if he is inter- 
fered with by the catcher. 

(See Rules Nos. 78-82 of SpaMlng'a Official Base BaU 
Guide.) 



Scoring Rules 



Each .side may have its own scorer and In <?ase of disagree- 
ment the umpire shall decide, or the captain of each team 
may agree upon one scorer for the match. 

(See Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide for the Scoring 
Rules, and see Spalding's Official Score Book for a 
Complete Guide on "How to Score Correctly tnd 
With Understanding.") 



Base Ball Equipment for 1910 

Fourteen different grades of base balls comprise the Spalding line for 1910, 
the Spalding " Official National League " Ball being the leader, of course, as 
it has been all over the world for over thirty years. For boys' use the Spald- 
ing " Official National League " Jr. takes the place of the regulation size ball, 
being made of identically the same materials and in the same manner, only 
slightly smaller in size. For junior cluVjs (composed of boys under 16 years 
of age) games played with it are recognized as official, just as if played with 
the Spalding "Official National League " Ball itself. 

The idea adopted by Spalding several years ago of supplying bats that are 
duplicates of those used by leading batters in the big leagues has met with 
much favor. This series is known as the "Gold Medal Autograph" line, each 
individual bat being stamped with the player's fac-simile signature. The list 
of players whose models have been duplicated has been selected with a view 
of embracing every variety of a bat that might be called for and ranges from 
the long, heavy bat of Frank Chance to the other extreme of Billy Keeler's. 
The players whose models comprise the Gold Medal Autograph line are : 
Frank Cha»ce. Fred Clarke, Sam Crawford, Harry Davis, Roger Bresnahan, 
Johnny Evers, i'.Iiller Huggins and Billy Keeler ; and, on special order, the 
Donlin, Stone and Oakes models are also supplied. The balance of the Spald- 
ing bat line is as large as in previous years, with the addition of two new 
models for this season, the "Di-eadnought," in assorted lengths but of the 
greatest thickness allowed by the rules, 2H inches, and which is especially 
useful for preliminary swings before going to bat, and the "Fungo," which, as 
the name implies, has its special use, being made of willow and light weight. 

The list of Mitts and Gloves for the use of catchers, infielders and outfielders 
is almost limitless in quantity and suitable to every requirement, both in qual- 
ity and price. An improvement in Spalding Infielders' Gloves this year is the 
patented " diverted seam," a method of sewing which carries the seam up a 
short distance on the finger of the glove, instead of being exactly between 
them, as in the ordinary glove, thus adding to their durability. 

Base Ball Uniforms, as every player knows, are subject to roughest usage, 
and yet must be light in weight; they cannot be made from ordinary cloth and 
stand the wear to which they are subjected. The cloth in Spalding uniforms is 
made to order especially for that purpose and then tailored by men who know 
just how the work should be done. The suits worn by the .World's Cham- 
pions, the Pittsburg team, and the American League Champions, the Detroit 
club, are made by Spalding's, as are the uniforms used by nearly all the lead- 
ing professional, college and amateur teams of the country. 

Another very important item of a player's equipment is his shoes. Unless 
the shoes are right, and fit perfectly, the player is seriously handicapped. 
Spalding shoes are made in a Spalding factory by Spalding workmen, who 
make the shoes of the fastest men in the game. These players cannot afford 
to lessen their chances of success by wearing inferior goods and that is why 
they wear the Spalding kind. Naturally the very latest suggestions and 
ideas are at the command of the Spalding factory. 

Every player, whether he needs anything now or not, should send for a copy 
of the new Spalding 1910 catalogue. It is a handsome specimen of the printer's 
art, and contains pictures, prices, and descriptions of everything that is 
needed in athletic sport, whether base ball, tennis, golf, track and field ath- 
letics or other spring and summer pastimes. Send your name and address on 
a postal to the nearest Spalding store (see list on inside front cover) and 
receive a copy by return malL 



The Spalding 

"Official National League" Ball 

* 

Is in a class by itself. It has no rival, even in approximate excellence. It 
has attained a degree of perfection in manufacture where the genius of man 
seems unable to conceive of any design for its improvement. The Spalding 
Ball has reached this high stage of development from very modest beginnings. 
Time was when American boys had to be satisfied with a base ball composed 
of a slice from a rubber shoe, some yarn from their dad's woolen sock and a 
cover made of leather bought from the village cobbler and deftly wrapped 
and sewed on by their patient mother, after her day's work was done. But 
that time is no more; for, whatever may be true of the doughnuts and pies 
that "mother used to make,"— and we all remember how good they were— the 
home-made creations of our maternal ancestry in the base ball line had to 
give way when the house of A. G. Spalding & Bros, entered that field, and 
long ago the Spalding "Official National League" Ball distanced all competi- 
tion in the race for popular supremacy. 

The eame of base ball has become our National Game because its integrity 
has been preserved through many years. For identically the same reason, 
the Spalding "Official National League" Ball has won its place in the high 
esteem of all devotees of the sport. Like the game in which it is used, its in- 
tegrity is above suspicion. 

It is well for the youth of America to learn the lesson that while the 
cheapest things are very seldom the best things, the best are always cheapest 
in the end. The price of the genuine Spalding " Oflficial National League " 
Ball is $1.25 each— no more and no less. The market abounds with so-called 
"League Balls," all listed at $1.25 each, for the sole purpose of deceiving the 
purchaser and enabling the "just as good" dealer to work the discount 
scheme on the boy who is not posted. 

This is the reason why bright boys always insist upon the Spalding Ball 
and decline to accept any substitute. To many parents, a ball is a ball; but 
to the American lad who knows, only a Spalding Ball is the genuine and 
Official Ball of the game, and substitution of "something equally as good " 
does not go with him, for he has learned that to become a good ball player 
and get the greatest pleasure out of the game, he must use the same ball that 
all the leading professional 
players use — and this is the 
Spalding "Official National 
League " Ball. 



J.C \^Ulf \Ji. I/IIC; ^Cm^^f lie IXlllOU VIOI^ bll%^ i3«»lll^ KJt*lM VllCAi 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
QUALITY 



^TRADE-MARK 

I ACCEPT NO 

SUBSTITUTE '- 




Spalding 
Official 
National 
league" 

REG. U. S. PAT. OFF. 



OFFICIAL BALL 
OF THE GAME 

FOR OVER 
THIRTY YEARS 



Adopted by the 
National League in 
1878, and the only 
ball used in Cham- 
pionship games 
since that time. Each ball wrapped in tinfoil, packed in a separate box, 
and sealed in accordance with the latest League regulations Warranted 
to last a full game when used under ordinary conditions. 

No. 1. Each, $1.25 Per dozen, $15.00 



London, 
England 



Birmingham, 
England 



New York 
Boston 
Syracuse 
Buffalo 



^^^^^^* Communications addressed to 

A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cilies will receioe attention, 
for street numbers see inside front cover of this hook- 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
liew Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



Edinburgh, 
Scotland 



Sydney, 
Australia 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

St. Paul 



■Prices in effect January 5. 1910. Subject to change without notici. 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
— QUALITY- 



^TRADE-MARK 

i ACCEPT NO 
SUBSTITUTE ^ 




Spalding City League 

Made with horse liide cover, and rub- 
ber center wound with yarn. Full 
size and weight. A very well made 
ball; excellent for general practice. 
No. L4. City League. . Each, 75c. 
Per dozen, $9.00 

Spalding National Association Jr. 

Made with horse hide cover and in 
every respect same as our National 
Association Ball No. NA, except 
slightly smaller in size. 
No.B2. National Association Jr. 75c. 
Above balls 'warranted to last a full 
game when used u nder ordinary 
conditions. 
Spalding Professional 
Selected horse hide cover ; full 
size ball. Made of carefully se- 
lected material and warranted 
first-class quality. Put up in a 
separate box and sealed. 
No. 2. Professional. Each, 50c. 

Spalding Public School League 
This is a well made Junior size 
ball, with horse hide cover and 
rubber center wound with yarn. 
Splendid for general practice by 
boys' teams. 
No.B3. Public School League. 50c, 



No.lO. Spalding Lively Bounder. Horse 
hide cover. A very lively ball; the in- 
side is all rubber, making it the liveli- 
est ball ever offered at the price. Put 
up in a separate box and sealed. 25c. 
No. 7B. Spalding Junior Professional. 
Slightly under regulation size. Horse 
hide cover and is very lively. Carefully 
made and a perfect boys' size ball. Put 
up in a separate box and sealed. 25c. 
No. 5. Spalding King of the Diamond. 
This ball is full size, made of good 
material and horse hide cover. Put 
up in a separate box and sealed. 25c. 



No. 12. Spalding Boys' Favorite Ball. 

A Good Boys' Lively Ball, boys' size; 
two-piece cover ; each ball trade- 
marked. Packed one dozen balls 
in a box. . . . Each, lOc. 
No. 11. Spalding Boys' Amateur Ball. 
Nearly regulation size and weight. 
The best ball for the money on the 
market; each ball trade-marked. 
One dozen balls in a box. Each, lOc. 
No. 13. Spalding Rocket Ball. A good 
bounding ball, boys' size. Best 5- 
cent, two-piece cover ball on the 
market; one dozen balls in a box. 5c. 



London, 
England 



Birmingham, 
England 



New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 



^^^^^^'' Commumcalions addressed to ^^^^^"'' 

A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cUies will receive atlenlion. 

For sired numbers see inside front coeer of this book- 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
New Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



Edinburglk, 
Scotland 



Sydnejj 
Australia 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

St. Paul 



"Prices in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without notice. 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
— QUALITY 



kJL 



mSctI 



„ ^TRADE-MARK 

PAJSlNbl ACCEPT NO 
-"^W SUBSTITUTE -■ 



GOLD MEDAIi AUTOGRAPH BATS 

We have obtained permission from many of the leaiiinp: batters to include 
in our line of high grade bats their favorite models, bearing their signature. 
The following have been selected as examples of what we are producing 
in this special "Players' Autograph" Bat Department. 

No. lOO. PLAIN OIL. FINISH. Each. $1.00 

(7 Gz /~ui-*M»rtSi«i^ 



i^«n^ <^- ^^'^-^' 




Autograph Model 

This Is a very large Bat 
with a lairly thick handle. 
Bals supplied will no! 
tveigb less Ihan \% aor 
over 48 ounces. Length 
about 3S inches. 



, . large Bal. the 

_?nglh as the Chance 

iviiodcl.with less weight but 
more evenly distributed, 
and not guile as thick 
handle. Bats will not 
xm.-J^^i-'* weigh less Ihan 41 nor 
«VCr 4< ounces, length abonl J5 inches. 

Antograph Model 

Also a large Bat. almost 
the length ol the Chance 
Model, but with ranch less 
wood, especially in the 
handle pari ol the Bal. 

Bats supplied will not 

weigh less than 41 nor over 44 ounces. 

Autograph Model 

A well balanced small 
handle Bal ol very popu- 
lar model. Bats supplied 
uill nol weigh less than 
%% nor over 41 ounces. 




Anto^aph Model 

This Bat is somewhat 
shorter than (he Chance 
niodel, medium thick 
handle and rounded end. 
Bats supplied ivili not 
weigh less Ihan 41 nor 
over 43 ounces. Length about 32;- incheSL 



Autograph Model 

A syramelrically shaped 
Bal. good bulk, medium 
Ihick handle. Bats sup- 
plied will not weigh kss 
Ihan 41 nor more Ihan 43 
ounces. 





^-f^r 




Autograph Model ^ 

A short Bal with a small | 

handle, bal with good ! 

hoik in the balance ol the 

Bal. Bats supplied will 

nol weigh less Ihan 39 nor over II ounceja 

Autograph Model ~ 

This Model and the 

Chance Bal touch the two 

extremes In models and 

weights used by the great 

majority ol prominent 

professional players. The 

Kccler Model is short and 

has fairly Ihin handle. Bals supplied will 

not weigh less Ihan 36 nor over 39 oapc€$- 

Length about 31 inches. 

We can also supply on Special Orders Donlin, Stone and Oakes IVIodels 




^ London, 
England 


A. G. 


* Communications addressed to 

SPALDING & BROS. 


Edinburgh, 
Scotland 


Birmingham, 
England 


in any of the following cities will receive attention. 
For street numbers see inside front cover of itiis book- 


Sydney, 
Australia 


New York 
Boston 
Syracuse 
Buffalo 


Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 
Montrea 


Washington 

Atlanta 
New Orleans 
, Canada 


Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 


St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 


San Francisco! 

Seattle 1 

Minneapolis 1 

St. Paul 1 



'Prices in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without notice. 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
QUALITY 



^SS 



telyl ACCEPT NO . 
SUBSTITUTE -^ 



SPALDING TRADE-MARK BATS 



No. lOOD. Hack Diamond Bat. Same 
quality as Gold Medal Autograph 
Bats; furnislied in most popular 
models. Th< finish we use on this 
grade is simil ir to that which many 
professional players rub on their 
own bats. . . Each, $1.00 

No. lOOL. Dreadnought Bat. Ex- 

i,reme size. Specially selected sea- 
soned ash, in largest size, 2/4 inches 
in diameter, allowed under official 
rules ; excellent for preliminary 
swings before going to bat. As- 
sorted lengths; plain oil finish. $1.00 

Record Bat. Made in popular models, 
finished in rough and ready style, 
no polish— simply plain oil finish. 
Recommended for club use, in- 
cluding college and school teams. 
One dozen in crate (assorted lengths 
from 30 to 35 inches and weights 
from 36 to 42 ounces), as nearly as 
possible in following proportion : 

LENGTHS WEIOHTS 



1-30 in. 2-33 in. 
1-31 in. 4-34 in. 
2-32 in. 2-35 in. 



1-36 oz. 
1-37 oz. 
2-38 oz. 



2-39 oz. 
4-40-41 oz. 
2-41-42 oz. 



These lengths and weights are given 
approximately and as a rule the 
shortest lengths are lightest weights 

No. 75. Plain oil finish. Each, 75c. 

No. 50M. Musliroom Bat. (Patented 
August 1, 1905.) Knob arrangement 
enables us to get more even di.stri- 
bution of weight over whole length 
than is possible under old construc- 
tion. Best quality air-dried timber 
used. Plain bat, special finish. 
Each, 50c, 
No. SOB. Boys' Record Bat. Same 
finish, quality and models as Record 
but shorter lengths and propor* 
tionate weight. . Each, 50c. 




No.lOOD No.lOOL 



Londoti) 
England 


A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 


Edinburgh, 
Scotland 


Birmingham, 
England 


in any of the following cities will receiue attention. 

For street numbers see inside front cover of ifiis book- 


Sydney, 
Australia 


New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 


Plilladelpliia Washington 
Pittsburg Atlanta 
Baltimore New Orleans 
Montreal, Canada 


Chicago 

Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 


St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 


San Francisco 1 

Seattle 1 

Minneapolis 1 

St. Paul 1 



"Prices in effect fanuary 5, 1910. Subject to change without notice. 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
^^ QUALITY 



L&J 




TRADE-MARK 

I ACCEPT NO 
SUBSTITUTE -~ 




Spalding Trade-Mark Bats 



Since 1877, when we introduced the Spald- 
ing line of Trade-Mark Bats, they have 
been recognized as standard by players to 
whom quality is a consideration. Where- 
ever possible, we have im- 
proved both style and quality 
from time to time and the 
assortment as now made up 
comprises absolutely the 
most up-to-date and thor- 
oughly trustworthy styles 
that can be produced. The 
timber used in their con- 
struction is seasoned in 
open sheds, exposed to the 
weather from two to three 
years before using, thus en- 
suring not only a lighter and 
stronger bat, but also re- 
taining the life quality and 
driving power of the wood. 

SPALDING MEN'S BATS 
No. SOT. Taped "League" 
Ash Bat, tape wound handle, 
extra quality, special finish. 
Each, 50c. 
No. 50. "League" Ash Bat, 
plain handle. Each, 50 c. 
No. 35T. Taped" City 
League" Bat, finest straight 
grained ash ; tape wound 
handle. . Each, 35c. 

No. 25. "City League" Bat, 
plain handle. Each, 25c. 
SPECIAL BATS FOR "FUNGO" 

HITTING 
No. 50 W. '• Willow," light 
weight, full size Bat, plain 
handle. . . Each, 50c. 

SPALDING BOYS' BATS 
No. 25B. "Junior League" 
Bat, plain, extra quality ash, 
No.50 N9.35T No. 25 No. sow spotted burning. Each, 25c. asB asBT 
No.25BT. "Junior League" Bat, tape wound, special finish. Each,25c. 
No. 10B. Boys' "League" Bat, good quality ash, varnished. Each, 10c. 



London, 
England 



Birmingham, 
England 



New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 



Communicalions addressed to 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cities will receive attention, 
for street numbers see inside front cover of this l>opl(. 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
New Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



Edinburgh, 
Scotland 



Sydney, 
A istraUa 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

St. Paul 



"Prices in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change uiilhoul iiotice. 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES , 
— QUALITY 




TRADE-MARK 

I ACCEPT NO 
SUBSTITUTE ^ 




Spalding Catchers' Mitts 

No. 5-0. League Extra. (Patented Septem- 
ber 29, 1908.) Special drab tanned buck, 
soft and pliable, patent hand formed felt 
padding; strap-and-buckle fastening at 
back; reinforced and laced at thumb; 
patent laced back. . Each, $4.00 

No. 0. Interstate. Professional size model. 
Face, sides and finger piece velvet tanned 
brown leather; back of selected buck, 
padded; strap-and-buckle fastening; re- 
inforced and laced at thumb, patent 
laced back. . . . Each, $3.00 

No. OX. Decker Patent. Face of velvet 
FMO. o-u tanned brown leather; heavy piece of 

sole leather on back for protection to fingers; strap-and-buckle at back; 
reinforced and laced at thumb; patent laced back. . . Each, $3.50 
No. 3-0. Decker Patent. Good quality black calfskin, patent laced back, 
reinforced and laced at thumb; strap-and-buckle fastening at back. Heavy 
piece of sole leather on back for extra protection to fingers. Each, $3.50 
No. OR. Decker Patent. Black leather; heavy sole leather finger protector 
on back; strap-and-buckle fastening; reinforced and laced at thumb; 

patent laced back Each, $2.50 

No. OA. Inter-City. Face of brown velvet tanned leather; strap-and-buckle 
fastening; reinforced and laced at thumb; patent laced back. Each, $2.50 
No. IR. Semi-Pro. Black leather; strap-and-buckle fastening; reinforced 
and laced at thumb; patent laced back. .... Each, $2.00 

No. IS. Attlletic. Face of smoked horsehide; correctly padded; reinforced 
and laced at thumb; patent laced back; strap-and-buckle fastening. 

Each, $2.00 
ALL STYLES MADE IN RIGHTS AND LEFTS 
Spalding Complete Catalogue of Athletic Goods Mailed Free. 
' Communications addressed to ^"^^ 



London, 
England 



Birminghani, 
England 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cities will receive attention. 

For slreel numbers see irwje fronl cover of this ioot 



Edinburgh, 
Scotland 



Sydney, 
Australia 



New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
JJew Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

St. Paul 



■prices in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without notice. 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
— QUALITY 



Uk 




TRADE-MARK 

I ACCEPT NO 

SUBSTITUTE - 




NO. 1C 



Spalding Catchers' Mitts 

No. fC. Backstop. Good quality 
special tanned buff colored leather 
face; padded; strap-and -buckle fast- 
ening; reinforced and laced at thumb; 
patent laced back. Each, $ I .50 

No. I D . Champion. Black face 
with buff leather reinforcement on 
palm; strap-and-buckle fastening; re- 
inforced and laced at thumb. $ I .25 

No. 2R. Association. Men's size. 
Special black smooth tanned leather 
face, back and finger-piece; correctly 
padded; reinforced and laced at thumb. 
Strap-and-buckle fastening. $ I ,00 

No. 2C. Foul Tip. Men's size. Oak tanned leather face, correctly 
padded; reinforced and laced at thumb; back made in popular half laced 
style. Strap-and-buckle fastening Each, $ I .OO 

No. 2 A. Club. Men's size. White buck face, back and finger-piece; 
tough and durable; padded to form perfect pocket; reinforced and laced 
at thumb. Patent laced back. Strap-and-buckle fastening. $ I .OO 

No. 2B. TTouths' IJeague. Youths' full size. Pearl colored special 
smooth tanned leather face, correctly padded; strap-and-buckle fasten- 
ing. Patent laced back Each, $ I .OO 

No. 3R. Interscliolastic. Large size. Good black smooth leather 
throughout; reinforced and laced at thumb. . . Each, 75c. 

No. 4. Public School. Large size. Improved style. Face and back 
special tanned buck; padded, reinforced and laced at thumb. 50C. 

No. 4R. Boys' Amateur. Junior size; black smooth leather face 
and back; white leather side strip; well padded; reinforced and laced 
at thumb Each, 50c. 

No. 5. Boys' Delight. Improved style. Face and back made of 
special tanned buck; laced thumb; well padded. . Each, 25c. 

ALL STYLES MADE IN RIGHTS AND LEFTS 
Spalding Complete Catalogue of Athletic Goods Mailed Free. 

Communications addressed to „ ., ^ _. 

Edinborgl^ 
Scotland 



London, 
Englaad 



Birmingham, 
England 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cities will receive attention, 
for street numbers see inside front cover of Itiis Aoo^. 



Sydney 
Auslralfa 



New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 



Philadelpliia 
Pittsburg 
Paltlmore 



Wasiiington 

Atlanta 
New Orleans 



MQHtreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

^li^JleapolIs 

SLPanl 



"Prica in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without hoScS 



SJSgBBS 



THE SPALDING^t^mrRADE-MARK 

GUARANTEES |lP*!JJ'<b| ACCEPT NO 
— ^ QUALITY ^^i::^ SUBSTITUTE - 



L3> 




Spalding ''League Special'' Basemen's Mitts 

It is in the Spalding Basemen's Mitts that the 
full advantages of the special "molded face" 
feature can be seen and appreciated. These 
mitts cannot be simply slapped together with- 
out regard to shape. The leather in the face 
must be most carefully selected, then the pad- 
ding must be shaped properly by hand to form 
the necessary " pocket " and after that the 
other special features, only found in our goods, 
must be added, in order to make them worthy 

to bear the Spalding Trade-Mark. 

No. AX. Special professional model. Abso- 

|u Q f^jr lutely finest quality white tanned buckskin, 

face, back and lining; leather lacing all 

around. Strap-and-buckle fastening. . . . Each. $4.00 

No. B X • Fine selected and specially tanned brown calfskin, face, back 

and lining; strap-and-buckle fastening; leather lacing all around; double 

row of stitching on heel pad. Each, $4.00 

No. BXR. Selected finest quality black calfskin, face, back and lining; 

leather lacing all around; strap-and-buckle fastening. Each, $4.00 

No. BXS. Professional model. Selected brown calfskin, face, back and 

lining; leather lacing all around; strap-and-buckle fastening. $ 4.00 

SPALDING BASEMEN'S MITTS 

No. CO. Profesfslonal. Made of very durable olive calfskin, face, 
back and lining. Correctly padded and leather laced all around and at 
thumb. Strap-and-buckle fastening. . . . Each, $3.00 

No. ex. Semi-Pro. Face of specially tanned slate color leather, 
back of firm tanned brown leather, laced all around and at thumb; extra 
well padded at wrist and thumb. Strap-and-buckle fastening. $ 2 .5 O 

No. CXR. Amateur (Black). Black calfskin face, black leather 
back and lining. Properly padded; laced all around and at thumb. 
Strap-and-buckle fastening. Each, $2.00 

No. CXS. Amateur. Brown buck leather face, special tanned 
leather back and lining. Padded; laced all around and at thumb. Strap- 
and-buckle fastening Each. $2.00 

No. D X . Double Play. Men's size. Oak tanned specially selected 
leather, laced all around and at thumb. Strap-and-buckle fastening. 
Easy fitting and nicely padded Each, $ I ,5 O 

No. EX, Lieague Jr. Good quality black smooth leather, laced all 
around and at thumb. Padded and will give grood service. Strap-and- 
buckle fastening Each. $ I .OO 

ALL STYLES MADE IN RIGHTS AND LEFTS 
Spalding Complete Catalogue of Athletic Goods Mailed Free. 



London, 
England 


A. G. 


SPALDING & BROS. 


Edinburgn, 
Scotland 


Birmingham, 
England 


in any of the following cities will receioe altenlion. 
for street numbers see inside front cover of this book- 


Sydney. 
Australia 


New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 


Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 
Montrea' 


Washington 

Atlanta 
New Orleans 
1, Canada 


Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 


St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 


San Francisco 1 

Seattle 1 

Minneapolis 1 

St. Paul 1 



'Prices in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without notice. 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
— QUALITY 



^TRADE-MARK 

I ACCEPT NO 
SUBSTITUTE '- 




No. IF 



Spalding Fielders' Mitts 

No. tF. League Extra Pitcher's and Basemen's Mitt. 

Made especially for Pitchers, and a very satisfactory 
style also for Basemen; in fact, this is the nearest 
approach to an all around mitt that has ever been 
put out. Face of special quality white buck, and the 
balance with special brown calfskin. Correctly 
padded and without hump. Laced all around and at 
thumb. Strap-and-buckle fastening. Each, $3.50 

No. 2F. League Special. Easiest, most pliable and 
best made mitt ever made. MoltJed brown calfskin 
face; extra full thumb, laced; leather lined. Strap- 
and-buckle fastening Each, $3.00 

No. 3F. League Special. Specially tanned black calfskin; padded with 
best felt; reinforced and laced at thumb; leather lined. Strap-and-buckle 
fastening Each, $3.00 

No. 4F. League Special. Best and softest white tanned buckskin; thumb 
and at wrist is extra well padded; laced thumb; leather lined. Strap-and- 
buckle fastening Each, $3.00 

No. 5F. Professional. Style much improved; specially tanned drab leather, 
well padded with fine felt; leather lined, carefully sewed and finished; 
laced thumb. Strap-and-buckle fastening. . . . Each, $2.00 

No. 6F. Semi-PrO'. Face made of white tanned buckskin, brown leather 
back: leather lined; laced thumb. Constructed throughout in a most sub- 
stantial manner. Strap-and-buckle fastening. . . . Each, $1.50 

No. 7F. Amateur. Face of good quality pearl colored leather, olive leather 
back, well padded and leather lined; reinforced and laced at thumb. 
Strap-and-buckle fastening Each, $1.00 

No. 8F. Amateur (Black). Good quality black tanned smooth leather, well 
padded; leather lined; reinforced and laced at thumb. Strap-and-buckle 

fastening Each, $1.00 

No. 9F. League Jr. Very popular boys' mitt. Made of oak tanned 
smooth leather, well padded; reinforced and laced at thumb. Each, 50c. 
No. lOF. Boys' Favorite. Made of special tanned white leather, is well 
padded and substantially made; laced at thumb. . . . Each, 25c. 

ALL STYLES MADE IN RIGHTS AND LEFTS 

Spalding Complete Catalogue of Athletic Go'<ds Mailed Free. 
™ Communicalions addressed to ^"^^ 



London, 
England 



BimlD^Iiain, 
England 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cities will receive attention. 

For slreei rjumbcrs see inside front coeer of //i/.s hool^. 



Edinburgn, 
Scotland 



Sydney, 
Australia 



New York 
Boston 
Syracuse 
Buffalo 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
New Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

S.. Paul 



"Prices in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without notice 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
QUALITY 



IX 




TRADE-MARK 

I ACCEPT NO 

SUBSTITUT E ^^ 



Spalding Inf ielders* Gloves 



All the gloves described below are made 

regularly with Web of leather between 

Thumb and First Finger, which can be cut 

out very easily if not required. 

No.PXl.Profcssional 

Buckskin used in 
its construction is 
finest obtainable. 
Heavily padded 
around edges and 
little finger. Extra 
long to protect the 
wrist. Leather 
lined. Each, $3.50 





Illustrating Diverted Seams 
All Spalding Infielders' 
Gloves are made with our 
patented diverted seam be- 
tween fingers, adding con- 
siderably to the durability 
of the gloves. 
Patented Mar. 10. 1908 

No. RXl. League Extra. Finest black calf; pro- 
fessional model. Quality of material and work- 
manship, also general design similar to No. PXL. 
NO. PXL Absolutely highest quality. Leather lined. Ea.,$3.50 

No. XWL. League SpeciaL Specially tanned calfskin. Padded with best 
quality felt. Extra long to protect wrist. Highest quality workmanship. 
Leather lined. ....... Each, $3.00 

No. PX. ProfessionaL Same in every particular as No. PXL, except not 
leather lined. ....... Each, $3.00 

No. RX. League Extra. Same in every particular as No. RXL. except not 
leather lined. ....... Each, $3.00 

No. PBL. Professional, Jr. Our best youths' glove, professional style. 
Selected velvet tanned buckskin. Material, workmanship and style same 
as No. PXL. An article of particular merit. Leather lined. Each, $2.50 
No. 2X. Intercollegiate. Improved style, extra long pattern, with mini- 
mum amount of padding. Style used by most successful players. Selected 
velvet tanned buckskin; welted seams. Leather lined, . Each, $2.50 
No. 2XR. Inter-City. Professional style glove, with specially padded lit- 
tle finger. Extra large thumb ; welted seams. Good quality black calf. 
Leather lined. ....... Each, $2.50 

No. 2Y. International. Special quality smoked horae hide ; professional 
style, specially padded little finger and extra large thumb ; welted seams. 
Leather lined Each, $2.50 

ALL STYLES MADE IN RIGHTS AND LEFTS 

Spalding Complete Catalogue of Athletic Goods Mailed Free. 
Communicalions addressed to ^"^^ 



London, 
England 



Birmitif^ham, 
England 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cilies will receive alleniion. 
for street numbers see inside front cover of this itool^. 



EdinbQrgb, 
Scotland 



Sydney. 
Australia 



New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
flew Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

St. Paul 



■Pricei in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without notice 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
— QUALITY 



^TRADE-MARK 

I ACCEPT NO 
SUBSTITUTE - 




No. 3X 



Spalding Infielders' Gloves 

No. 3X. Semi-Pro. Gk>od quality gray buck tanned 
leather. A large model. Correctly padded. Wel- 
ted seams Each, $2.00 

I No. 4X. Association. Good quality olive tanned 
I leather, nicely padded and leather lined ; inside 
hump ; welted seams. . . Each, $2.00 
No. 3XR. Amateur. Good quality black tanned 
leather, correctly padded and extra large thumb ; 
welted seams. Well made. . Each, $2.00 
No. 11. Match. Full size glove ; Special tsnned 
buff colored leather; welted seams; correctly pad- 
ded Each, $1.50 

No. XI. Club Special. Special white tanned lea- 
ther, correctly padded ; welted seams ; leather 

lined Each, $1.50 

No. XR. Champion. Full size, black leather ; professional model ; prop- 
erly padded ; welted seams. ..... Each, $1.50 

No. XS. Practice. Men's size. Goodquality white velvet tanned leather; 
well finished : welted seams ; inside hump. . . Each, $1.25 

No. 15. Regulation. Men's size. Brown tanned leather, correctly pad- 
ded ; palm leather lined. ..... Each, $1.00 

No. 15R. Regulation. Men's size. Good quality black tanned leather, pad- 
ded, inside hump ; palm leather lined. . . . Each, $1.00 

No. 13. Interscholaslic. Men's size. Special white tanned leather ; wel- 
ted seams, correctly padded ; very durable. . . Each, $1.00 
No. XB. Boys' Special. Professional style ; good quality special tanned 
white leather, welted seams ; leather lined. . . Each, $1.00 
No. 12. Public School. Full size; white tanned leather, correctly padded; 
inside hump ; palm leather lined. .... Each, 75c. 

No. 12R. League Jr. Black smooth tanned leather, lightly padded, extra 
long ; palm leather lined. ..... Each, 75c. 

No. 16. Junior. Full size, craven tanned leather, lightly padded, but ex- 
tra long ; palm leather lined. ..... Each, 50c. 

No. 17. Youths'. Good size, special brown smooth tanned leather, padded, 
and inside hump. ....... Each, 50c. 

No. 14. Boys' Amateur. Youths' professional style. Special tanned white 
leather, padded ; inside hump ; palm leather lined. . Each, 50c. 

No. 18. Boys' Own. Oak tanned leather, correctly padded ; palm leather 
lined. ........ Each, 25c. 

No. 19. Boys' Favorite. Special tanned white leather, lightly padded and 
insid« hump ; palm leather lined. .... Each, 25c. 



ALL STYLES MADE IN RIGHTS AND LEFTS 

, .._ Communications addressed to 

London, 

England 



Birmingham, 
England 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cities will receive attention. 

For sireel numbers see inside front cover of this bool(. 



Edinburgh, 
Scotland 



Sydney, 
Australfa 



New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
New Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Min.ieapolls 

St. Paul 



"Prices in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without notice 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
QUALITY 



IX 




TRADE-MARK 

I ACCEPT NO 

SUBSTITUTE ^ -% 




Spalding Base Ball Masks 

No. 4-0. Sun Protecting. With patent 
molded leather sun-shade, protecting eyes 
without obstructing view. Made of finest 
steel wire, extra heavy black finish. Molded 
leather chin-strap, improved desigm; hair- 
filled pads, including forehead pad, special 
elastic head-band. . . Each, $4.00 
No. 6-0. Special Soldered. Crossings 
of wires heavily soldered. Black finish; con- 
tinuous padding on sides, forehead pad and 
molded leather chin-piece; elastic head-band 
and detachable cloth sun-shade. $4.00 

No. 5-0. Umpires*. With neck protect- 
ing attachment and special ear protection, 
IO.4-0 nicely padded, making it safest and most 
convenient style to use. . Each, $5.00 
No. 3-0. Neck Protecting. Neck protecting arrangement is made 
so as not to intefere with free movements while at the same time affords 
absolute protection to neck. Finest steel wire, extra heavy and black 
finish to prevent reflection of light. Hair-filled pads, including fore- 
head pad and special elastic head-strap. . . . Each, $3. SO 
No. 2-0. National Association. Extra heavy best black annealed 
steel wire. Padding of improved design, including forehead pad, and 
molded leather chin-strap; elastic head band. . . Each, $2.50 
No. O-P. Semi-Pro. Extra heavy best black annealed steel wire. 
Special continuous side pads, leather covered, hair-filled, special fore- 
head pad; molded leather chin-strap; elastic head band. Each, $2. SO 
No. 0-X. Regulation Lieague. Men's, heavy soft annealed steel 
wire, finished in black. Leather covered pads, including forehead pad 

and molded leather chin-strap Each, $2.00 

No. OXB. Regulation L>eagne. Youths', heavy black finished soft 

annealed steel wire, and similar in quality to OX, but smaller. $1.7S 

No. O. Regulation Lieague. Men's, heavy annealed steel wire, 

bright finish. Leather pads, including forehead pad and molded leather 

chin-strap Each, $l.SO 

No. A. Amateur. Men's, black enameled steel wire, leather covered 

pads, forehead pad and molded chin-strap. . . . Each, $1.00 

No. B. Boys' Amateur. Youths', black enameled steel wire, and 

similar to No. A, but smaller in size Each, $1.00 

No. Li. Regulation. Bright wire. Men's, same style as Amateur; 

without head or chin-piece. Leather covered pads. . Each, 75c. 

No. C. Youths'. Bright wire, leather covered pads, wide elastic 

head-strap, leather strap-and-buckle Each, SOc. 

No. D. Boys'. Bright wire, smaller in size than No. C. " 25c. 

Communications addressed to ^^^ 



London, 
England 



Birmingham, 
England 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cities will receive attention. 

for street numbers see irrside front cover of this hook- 



Edinburgh, 
Scotland 



Sydney, 
Australia 



New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
New Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

St. Paul 



'Prices in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without notice. 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES , 
— QUALITY 



Uk 



^TRADE-MARK 

^ ACCEPT NO 

SUBSTITUTE «r 






SPALDING INFLATED BODY PROTECTORS 

We were the first to introduce an inflated body protector, made under the 
Gray patent, and the method used then has been retained in the improved 
styles listed below with the addition of a special break at the bottom 
which makes them more pliable and convenient. Made of best rubber, 
covered with special fabric, inflated with air. When not in use can be 

rolled into a very small package after air is let out. 

No. 4-0. Special Professional League Protectoir. Special strong white 

covering, bound edges. Inflated. Full size. Used by practically all 

catchers in National, American and other professional leagues. $ lO.OO 

No. 3-0. Intercollegiate Protector. Covering of special imported 

materiaL Inflated. Full size Each, $9.00 

No. 2-0. Minor League Protector. Covering of very durable material 

made in best manner. Inflated. Full size. . . Each, $7. SO 

No. O. City League Protector. Narrower model than No. 2-0. Covering 

of very durable material. Inflated Each, $6.00 

No. 1. Amateur Catchers* Protector. Same size as No. 0. Brown, 

special quality covering. Inflated Each, $4.00 

No. HI. Interscholastic Catchers' Pro- 
tector; well made. Inflated. $3. SO 
No. 2. Youths' Catchers' Protector; good 
size. Inflated. . . Each, $3.00 

Umpires' Body Protectors 

No. li. Inflated; large size, best quality. 
Each, $10.00 

No. S. Inflated ; special design, best 

quality. . . . Each, $10.00 

Give length and width required when 

ordering umpires' body protectors. 

Spalding Leg Guards for 
Base Ball Catchers 

As supplied to Roger Bresnahan, manager- 
catcher of the St. Louis National League 
Club, and other prominent league catchers. 
Knee guard of molded sole leather; leg 
piece padded with reeds; light and stronf 
special ankle pads as protection from shary 
spikes. Covered with special quality white 
noGER enESNAHAN buck dressed leather. 

wcARiNQ spALoiNQ LEG GUARDS No. 33. Per palr, $6.00 

Communications addressed to "^"^ 




London. 
England 



Birmingham, 
England 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cities will receive attentiofk , 
For street numbers see inside front covet of litis Aooi^. 



EdlnbonP, 
Scotland 



Syditeyj 
Australia 



New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 



Philadelphia Washington 
Pittsburg Atlanta 

Baltimore I New Orleans 
Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



San Francfsco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

St. Paul 



Price* in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without no.i'ct 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES , 
^- QUALITY 



iAi 




TRADE^MARK 

I ACCEPT NO 

SUBSTITUTE ^^ 



Spalding Base Ball Uniforms 

Spalding Uniforms for Amateur and Semi-Prof essional Base Ball clubs 
are made in the same careful manner and under exactly the same perfect 
conditions as the outfits we supply to the professional League Teams; in 
fact, the Amateur Team secures the benefit of the many special features 
that we develop from time to time through constant association with the 
principal league players, little items of construction that do not occur to 
the ordinary manufacturer, but which make all the difference in the 
world when it comes to actually wearing the uniforms for ball playing, 
we incorporate in our Uniforms, without extra charge. The amateur 
clubs buying Spalding Uniforms get the style, fit and finish of the League 
outfits, but at prices well within their means. 

THE CITY LEAGUE UNIFORM Nc«. P 

Good quality. In neat and attractive checks, plaids and stripes, also in 

plain White. Finished like our best quality. 

CITY LEAGUE UNIFORM No. P. Complete, $7.50 Cfi AA 

Net price to clubs ordering for Entire Tearn. Suit, vU^Vv 

Colors: White with Blue Check, Brownish Blue Shadow Plaid, Grayish 

Brown with Blue Stripe, Bluish Gray, Light Blue Plaid, and Brown 

Stripe, and White. 

THE CLUB SPECIAL UNIFORM No. 3 

Made of good quality flannel in a variety of very desirable patterns. Well 

finished and a most excellent outfit for amateur clubs. 

CLUB SPECIAL UNIFORM No. 3. Complete, $6.00 «C AA 

Net price to clubs ordering for .Entire Tfaw. Suit, VV»W 

Colors: White, Blue Gray, Brown Gray, Dark Gray, Maroon, Navy, 

Green and Black. 

THE AMATEUR SPECIAL UNIFORM No. 4 

Made of good quality cloth, and compares favorably with uniforms of 

other makers quoted at a much higher price. Very popular with the 

younger base ball players. 

AMATEUR SPECIAL UNIFORM No. 4. Complete, $5.00 Ci AA 

Net price to clubs ordering for Entire Team. . . . Suit, v^*"" 

Colors: White, Light Gray, Blue Gray, Brown Gray, Maroon, Navy Blue, 

Green and black. 

No extra charge for lettering stiirts with name of club nor for detachable 
sleeves on above uniforms. Extra charge for all lettering on caps 

Spalding Complete Catalogue of Athletic Goods Mailed Free. 



London, 
England 



Birmingham, 
England 



■ Communications aJJressed to 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cities will receive attention, 
for street numbers see inside front cover of this bool(. 



Edlnbur^ 
Scotland 



Sydney. 
Australia 



New York 
Boston 

Syracuse 
Buffalo 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
Jfew Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

St. Paul 



'Prices in effect January 5, 1910, Subject to change Without notice. 



THE SPALDING 

GUARANTEES 
— QUALITY 



g^TRADE-IVIARK 

Pj^lbJ ACCEPT NO 
'm*-k'^ SUBSTITUTE ^ 



Uk 



Spalding 

Junior and Youths' 

Uniforms 

We make a specialty of our Junior and 
Youth's Uniforms to illustrate to the 
young player in a practical manner just 
what we mean by our claims of superior- 
ity in uniform manufacture. We use 
plenty of material in every article- 
nothing- is skimped; the sewing and 
finishing is carefully done, and the uni- 
forms not only look well, but they feel 
comfortable when put on and they give 
good service even under the roughest 
kind of usage. 




CHKISTV MtTHEWSON, 

New York National 



THE SPALDING JUNIOR UNIFORM No. 5 

Colors: Gray, Cardinal, Navy Blue. Blue Gray, Broicn-Mixed and White 

This uniform is made expressly for clubs composed of boys and youths, 

and will stand the hardest kind of wear. 

SPALDING JUNIOR UNIFORM No. 5. Complete, $4.00 «Q QQ 

Net price to clubs ordering nine or more uniforms. Suit, '*' * 

No extra charge for lettering shirts with name ol club nor for detachable 

sleeves. Extra charge lor all lettering on caps 

THE SPAIMNG YOUTHS' UNIFORM No. 6 

SPALDING YOUTHS' UNIFORM No. 6. . . Complete, $1 ()() 

Very well made of good quality Gray material. ^ ' 

No larger sizes than 30-inch waist and 34-inch chest furnished in this uniform. 
Extra charge for all lettering on caps 

SPECIAL NOTICE.— Where No. 6 Uniforms are ordered without Stock- 
ings we supply the shirts with either Solid Blue or Red Collars, and 
with Half Sleeves trimmed at bottom at same price as for regular 
equipment described above. 
Measurement Blank and complete assortment of sa mples and prices free 
Communicalions addressed lo ^^^^^^JEHinburdll 

Scotland 



London, 
England 



I Birmingham, 
England 



I New York 
Boston 
Syracuse 
Buffalo 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cilies will receive attention. 
For sired numliers see inside front cover of this hook- 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
New Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



Sydney, 
Australia 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

St. Paul 



'Prices in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without notice. 



THE SPALDING. 

GUARANTEES 1 
^ QUALITY 


iJsTSfC 


^TRADE-MARK 

1 ACCEPT NO 

9 SUBSTITUTE ^ 




London, 
England 



Birmingham, 
England 



SPALDING BASE BALL SHOES 

Spalding Highest Quality Base Ball Shoe 

No. 2-0. Handmade throughout; specially 
selected kangaroo leather. No pains or ex- 
pense has been spared in making this shoe 
not only the very highest in quality, but per- 
fect in every other detail. The plates are of 
the finest hand-forged razor steel and are 
firmly riveted to heel and sole. Pair, $7«00 

Spalding Sprinting Base Ball Shoe 

No. 30-S. Selected kangaroo leather and 
built on our famous running shoe last. Is 
strongly made, and, while extremely light in 
weight will be found substantial in con- 
struction. Hand sewed and a strictly bench 
made shoe. Rawhide thong laces. $7.00 

Spalding "Featherweight" Base Ball Shoe 

The Lightest Base Ball Shoe Ever Made. 
Size of Shoe— 5 6 7 8 9 
Weight (Ozs.) 18 18^ 19 20 21 

No. FW. Owing to the lightness and fine- 
ness of its construction, it is suitable for the 
exacting demands of the fastest players, but 
as a light weight durable shoe for general use 
or for the ordinary player, we recommend our 
No. 30-S, which will give better wearing ser- 
vice. Hand sewed and a strictly bench made 
shoe. Rawhide thong laces. Pair, $7.00 

Spalding Club Special Shoe 

No. O. Carefully selected satin calfskin, ma- 
chine sewed; substantially constructed ; a 
first-class shoe in every particular. Steel 
plates riveted to heel and sole. Pair, $5.00 

Spalding Amateur Special Shoe 

No. 35. Good quality calfskin, machine 
sewed; very durable; specially recommended. 
Plates riveted to heel and sole. Pair, $3 .50 

Spalding Junior Shoe 

No. 3 7. A leather shoe. Plates riveted to heel 
and sole. An excellent shoe for the money, 
but not guaranteed. . Per pair, $2.50 

Communications addressed to ^^^^ 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

in any of the following cUies will receive attention. 
For street numlyers see imule front cover of this bool(. 



Edinburgh, 
Scotland 



Sydney, 
Australia 



New York 
Boston 
Syracuse 
Buffalo 



Philadelphia 
Pittsburg 
Baltimore 



Washington 

Atlanta 
New Orleans 



Montreal, Canada 



Chicago 
Cincinnati 
Cleveland 
Columbus 



St. Louis 

Kansas City 

Denver 

Detroit 



San Francisco 

Seattle 

Minneapolis 

St. Paul 



Prices in effect January 5, 1910. Subject to change without nolici. 



It 



HE following selection of items from their latest Catalogue will give an 
idea of the great variety of ATHLETIC GOODS manufactured by A. G. 
SPALDING & BROS. SEND FOR A FREE COPY. 



Archery 

Bags- 
Bat 

Cricket 
Striking 
Uniform 

Balls- 
Base 
Basket 
Cricket 
Field Hockey 
Foot, College 
Foot, Rugby 
Foot, Soccer 
Golf 
Hand 
Indoor 
Medicine 
Playground 
Squash 
Tennis 
Volley 
Water Polo 

Bandages, Elastic 

Bathing Suits 

Bats- 
Base Ball 
Cricket 

Belts 

Caps- 
Base Ball 
University 
Water Polo 

Chest Weights 

Circle, Seven-Foot 

Coats, Base Ball 

Collars, Swimming 

Corks, Running 

Covers, Racket 

Cricket Goods 

Croquet Goods 

Discus, Olympic 

Dumb Bells 

Emblems 

Equestrian Polo 

Exerciser, Home 

Felt Letters 

Fencing Sticks 

Field Hockey 

Flags- 
College 

Foul. Base Ball 
Marking. Golf 

Foils, Fencing 

Foot Balls- 
Association 
College 
Rugby 

Glasses, Base Bali 
Sun 
Automobile 



Gloves— 

Base Ball 

Boxing 

Cricket 

Fencing 

Foot Ball 

Golf 

Handball 

Hockey, Ice 
Glove Softener 
Goals — 

Basket Ball 

Foot Ball 

Hockey, Ice 
Golf Clubs 
Golf Counters 
Golfette 

Gymnasium, Home 
Gymnasium Board 
Hammers, Athletic 
Hats, University 
Head Harness 
Health Pull 
Hockey Sticks, Ice 
Hole Cutter, Golf 
Hole Rim, Golf 
Horse, Vaulting 
Hurdles, Safety 
Hurley Goods 
Indian Clubs 
Jackets — 

Fencing 

Foot Ball 
Javelins 
Jerseys 

Knee Protectors 
Iiacrosse 
Lanes for Sprints 
Lawn Bowls 
Leg Guards— 

Base Ball 

Cricket 

Foot Ball 
Markei-s, Tennis 
Masks- 
Base Ball 

Fencing 

Nose [inal 

Masseur, A b d o m 
Mattresses 
Megaphones 
Mitts- 
Base Ball 

Handball 

Striking Bag- 
Moccasins 
Nets- 
Cricket 

Golf Driving 

Tennis 

Volley Ball 



Numbers, Compet- 

I*ads— [itors' 

Chamois, Fencing 
Foot Ball 
Sliding, Base Ball 

Pants- 
Base Ball 
Basket Ball 
Foot Ball, College 
Foot Ball, Rugby 
Hockey, Ice 
Running 

Pennants, College 

Plates- 
Base Ball Shoe 
Home 

Marking. Tennis 
Pitchers' Box 
Pitchers' Toe 
Teeing. Golf 

Platforms, Striking 
Bag 

Poles — 
Vaulting 

Polo, Roller, Goods 

Posts — 
Backstop, Tennis 
Lawn Tennis 

Protectors — 
Abdomen 
Base Ball Body 
Eye Glass 

Push Ball 

Quoits 

Rackets, Tennis 

Rings- 
Exercising 
Swinging 

Rowing Machines 

Roque 

Sacks, for Sack 
Racing 

Score Board, Golf 

Score Books- 
Score Tablets, Base 

Shirts- [Ball 

Athletic 
Base Ball 

Shoes — 
Base Ball 
Basket Ball 
Bowling 
Clog 

Cross Country 
Cricket 

Fencing [ation 
Foot Ball, Associ- 
Poot Ball, College 
Foot Ball, Rugby 
Foot Ball, Soccer 
Golf 
Gymnasium 



Shoes — 
Jumping 
Running 
Skating 
Squash 
Tennis 

Shot- 
Athletic 
Indoor 
Massage 

Skates — 
Ice 
Roller 

Skis 

Sleeve, Pitchers 

Snow Shoes 

Squash Groods 

Straps- 
Base Ball 
For Three- 
Legged Race 
Skate 

Stockings 

Striking Bags 

Suits — 

Basket Ball 
Gymnasium 
Gymnasium, 

Ladies' 
Running 
Soccer 
Swimming 
Union Foot 
Ball 

Supporters 
Ankle 
Wrist 

Suspensories 

Sweaters 

Tether Tennis 

Tights - 
Full 

W restling 
Knee 

Toboggans 

Trapeze 

Trunks- 
Bathing 
Velvet 
Worsted 

Umpire Indica- 

Uniforms [tor 

W^ands, Calis- 
thenic 

Watches, Stop 

Water Wings 

Weirhts, 56-lh. 

Whitely Exer- 
cisers 

W r e s 1 1 i n g 
Equipment 



A Standard Quality must be inseparably linked to a Standard Policy. 

Without a definite and Standard Mercantile Policy, it is impossible for a manufacturer to long 
maintain a Standard Quality. 

To market his goods through the jobber, a manufacturer must provide a profit for the jobber as 
well as the retail dealer. To meet these conditions of Dual Profits, the manufacturer is obliged to 
set a proportionately high list price on his goods to the consumer. 

To enable the glib salesman, when booking his orders, to figure out attractive profits to both the 
jobber and retailer, these high list prices are absolutely essential; but their real purpose v/i\\ have been 
served when the manufacturer has secured his order from the jobber, and the jobber has secured his 
order from the retailer. 

Hon^ever, these deceptive high list prices are not fair to the consumer, who does not, and, in 
reality, is not ever expected to pay these fancy list prices. 

When the season opens for the sale of such goods, with their misleading but alluring h>-h list 
prices, the retailer begins to realize his responsibilities, and grapples with the situation as best he 
can, by offering "special discounts," which vary with local trade conditions. 

Under this system of merchandising, the profits to both the manufacturer and the jobber are 
assured; but as there is no stability maintained in the prices to the consumer, the keen competition 
amongst the local dealers invariably leads to a demoralized cutting of prices by which the profits of 
the reiailer are practically eliminated. 

This demoralization always reacts on the manufacturer. The jobber insists on lower, and still 
lower, prices. The manufacturer in his turn, meets this demand for the lowering of prices by the 
only way open to him, viz.: the cheapening and degrading of the quality of his product. 

The foregoing conditions became so intolerable that, ten years ago, in 1899, A. G. Spalding 
& Bros, determined to rectify this demoralization in the AtUetic Goods Trade, and inaugurated what 
has since become known as "The Spalding Policy." 

The "Spalding Policy" eliminates the jobber entirely, so far as Spalding Goods are concerned, 
and the retail dealer secures his supply of Spalding Athletic Goods direct from the manufacturer 
under a restricted retail price arrangement by which the retail dealer is assured a fair, legitimate and 
certain profit on all Spalding Athletic Goods, and the consumer is assured a Standard Quality and is 
protected from imposition. 

The "Spalding Policy" is decidedly for the interest and protection of the users of Athletic Goods, 
and acts in two ways: 

First — The user is assured of genuine Official Standard Athletic Goods, and 

the same fixed prices to everybody 
Second— As manufacturers, we can proceed with confidence in purchasing at 
the proper time, the very best raw materials required in the manufacture 
of our various goods, well ahead of their respective seasons, and this enables 
us to provide the necessary quantity and absolutely maintain the Spalding 
Standard of Quality. 

All retail dealers handling Spalding Athletic Goods are required to supply consumer3 at our 
regular printed catalogue prices —neither more nor less— the same prices that similar goods are sold 
for in our New York, Chicago and other stores. 

All Spalding dealers, as well as users of Spalding Athletic Goods, are treated exactly alike, and no 
special rebates or discriminations are allowed to anyone. 

Positively, nobody; not even oflScers, managers, salesmen or other employes of A. G. Spalding 
& Bros., or any of their relatives or personal friends, can buy Spalding Athletic Goods at a discount 
from.the regular catalogue prices. 

This, briefly, is the " Spalding Policy, " which has already been in successful operation fbr the 
past ten years, and wrill be indefinitely continued. 

In other words, " The Spalding Policy " is a "square deal " for everybody. 

A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 



PRX^IDENT. ^-K^ 



